The Adipokinetic Peptides of Hemiptera: Structure, Function, and Evolutionary Trends

The Hemiptera comprise the most species-rich order of hemimetabolous insects. Members a number superfamilies, notably especially more basal ones such as white flies, psyllids and aphids, belong to destructive agricultural insects known worldwide. At other end phylogenetic tree are hemipterans that notorious medical pests (e.g. kissing bugs). Most hemipteran species good flyers, lipid oxidation plays pivotal role power contraction flight muscles and, in aquatic water bugs, also deliver ATP for extensive swimming action leg muscles. Mobilization stored lipids (mostly triacylglycerols fat body) circulating diacylglycerols hemolymph is regulated by set small neuropeptides, adipokinetic hormones (AKHs). We searched literature publicly available databases transcriptomes genomes present here AKH sequences from 191 species. Only few these peptides were sequenced via Edman degradation or mass spectrometry, even fewer characterized with molecular biology methods; thus, majority AKHs we have identified bioinformatics merely predicted at this stage. Nonetheless, total 42 primary assigned Hemiptera. About 50% structures occur insect orders, while remaining currently unique find 9 novel not shown be synthesized before any insect. octapeptides (28) but there an impressive decapeptides (12) compared speciose orders Diptera Lepidoptera. attempt construct hypothetical peptide evolution quite bit overlapping current ideas Lastly, discuss possibility use sequence aphid lead research into mimetic fulfilling criteria green insecticide.