Peptides 53 (2014) 1–2

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Editorial

Introduction: Invertebrate Neuropeptides XIV

This special issue of Peptides represents the fourteenth in a series dedicated to invertebrate neuropeptides [see also Peptides 41 (3) 2013, Peptides 34 (1) 2012, Peptides 32 (3) 2011, Peptides 31 (3) 2010, Peptides 30 (3) 2009, Peptides 29 (2) 2008, Peptides 28 (1) 2007; Peptides 27 (3) 2006; Peptides 26 (1) 2005; Peptides 24 (10) 2003; Peptides 23 (11) 2002; Peptides 23 (4) 2002; and Peptides 22 (2) 2001] and, in large part, chronicles recent advances in the field as presented in the Invertebrate Neuropeptide Conference 2013 (INC2013). I wish to thank Editor-in-Chief Abba Kastin for the invitation to serve as guest editor for this issue. The INC 2013 took place along the Andaman Sea coast of Krabi, Thailand, and featured leading researchers in the field of invertebrate neuropeptides representing 15 countries and 5 continents. This issue addresses a number of aspects of invertebrate neuropeptide research, and begins with a description of the isolation and identification of novel peptides from a number of source organisms that are either invertebrates or associated with invertebrates, and that exhibit a diverse array of biological properties. Rodriguez et al. identify a new peptide from the sea anemone Phymanthus crucifer that inhibits acid-sensing channels, and Sciani et al. describe the identification of a novel mast cell degranulating peptide from coelomic fluid of the sea urchin Echinometra lucunter. Aguilar et al. use RT-PCR to identify eight new 12-conotoxins from three species of worm hunting snails of the genus Conus collected in the eastern Pacific. Zeng et al. carry out a genomic and functional characterization of three novel venom peptides from the scorpion Heterometrus spinifer, and Possani et al. isolate and characterize a K+ channel blocking peptide from the Cuban scorpion Rhopalarus garridoi. Two papers from Nisanth Kumar et al. describe the isolation and structural elucidation of bioactive cyclic dipeptides from two distinct bacterial strains associated with entomopathogenic nematodes. Kong et al. recount the isolation and identification of a new platelet inhibitory peptide from the Stiff Silkworm, Bombyx batryticatus. A single domain anti-LPS peptide from the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii was synthesized, found to exhibit antimicrobial properties, and functionally characterized by Arockiaraj et al.; whereas Shao et al. isolated, structurally characterized and determined the bioactivity profile for a novel anti-tumor peptide from the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch. The issue continues with a report of the cDNA cloning and transcript distribution of two new neuroparsin peptides in the insect Nezara viridula and a decapod crustacean Jasus lalandii by Marco et al. Zeng et al. describe a genome-wide search and comparative genomic analysis of trypsin inhibitor-like cysteine-rich

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2014.03.002 0196-9781/© 2014 Published by Elsevier Inc.

domain-containing peptides, indicating that these peptides can be classified into seven distinct evolutionary groups. This is followed by molecular cloning, characterization and recombinant expression of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone from the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannemai. Tanaka et al. carry out a transcriptome analysis of neuropeptides and their G-protein coupled receptors from the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens. Vanden Broeck et al. identify the short Neuropeptide F precursor from the desert locust and find evidence for an inhibitory role in the control of feeding. A report by Sedra that focuses on the female reproductive system of the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus, describes arrangements of muscles, as well as the distribution and myoactivity of two endogenous FMRFamide-like peptides; whereas Orchard et al. report on the molecular characterization of the kinin transcript and physiological effects of kinins and/or biostable analogs in the kissing bug. Orchard’s lab continues with another report on the molecular characterization and possible biological roles for allatotropin in R. prolixus. Hoffman et al. describe the functional activity of both allatotropin and allatostatin in the pupal stage of the stored grain pest Tribolium castaneum. Kwon et al. report on the functional characterization of native melittin isoforms in two species of honey bees: Apis mellifera and A. cerana. Sowa-Jasilek et al. study the immune response role of insect hemolymph polypeptides, including Galleria anionic peptide 2 and lysozyme. Lanz-Mendoza et al. report on the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial inactiviation of the antimicrobial peptide cecropin 3 in Anophles albimanus. Curtidor et al. reports that rhoptry neck protein 5 (RON5) peptide from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum binds to human red blood cells and inhibits parasite invasion, and provides the first evidence that RON5 plays a fundamental role in erythrocyte invasion. Tehrzaz et al. find that capa-1 neuropeptide activates renal NF-kB signaling in D. melanogaster, suggesting that the peptide plays a role in desiccation stress tolerance in this model fly. Smagghe et al. analyze the interaction of phenolic compounds with the cholecystokinin signaling pathway to explain the effects of this peptide on food intake. In further work by Smagghe’s laboratory, Yu and Smagghe report the characterization of sulfakinn receptor 2 (TcSKR2) and describe its role in food intake in the red flour beetle T. castaneum; and in a separate report by Yu et al. develop an Sf9 cell-based bioassay that expresses both TcSKR1 and TcSKR2 receptors and describes the differential activation by sulfated and non-sulfated sulfakinin peptides. Two additional papers by Park et al. and Denlinger et al. focus on the molecular cloning of the diapause hormone receptor in the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea. The former paper describes the

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Editorial / Peptides 53 (2014) 1–2

expression of the receptor in CHO cells that leads to functional characterization of the hormone and the identity of a novel biostable super-agonist and several other novel analogs with antagonist activity. The latter describe molecular details of the receptor and provide an expression analysis, determining that expression was low in whole body extracts throughout diapause and in young nondiapausing pupae, but distinctly elevated as development ensued in pharate adults. Isaac describes a study of the degradome and evolution of the sex peptide of Drosophila as a ligand for the MIP receptor. Borgden et al. report on Human beta-defensin HBD3 and its binding to the immobilized allergen Bla g2 from the German cockroach Blatella germanica. Jackson et al. describe structural studies of adipokinetic hormone in water and DPC micelle solution using NMR distance restrained molecular dynamics; whereas Nichols et al. report on conserved residues in RF-amide receptor models and identify predicted contact sites in ligand-receptor binding. In a short communication, Tytgat et al. report that Ala-7, His-10 and Arg-12 are crucial amino acids for the activity of a synthetically engineered ␮-Conotoxin. The issue concludes with several papers that explore aspects of invertebrate neuropeptides or proteins that may be of significance to efforts to develop novel means of controlling and/or managing invertebrate pests or drug resistant microbes. In two papers, Soberon et al. report that membrane binding and oligomer membrane insertion are necessary although insufficient for

Bacillus thuringensis Cyt1Aa toxicity; whereas Bravo et al. describe the toxicity and mode of action of insecticidal Cr1A proteins from B. thuringensis in an insect CF-1 cell line. Smagghe et al. describe DsRNA degradation in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum as an explanation for the lack of response in an RNAi feeding and injection study. Apornsuwan et al. report on the potent antigonococcal activity of peptide BmKn2 from the venom of the Chinese scorpion B. martensii against different MALDI biotypes of multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. I wish to thank the invited authors for their interesting and insightful contributions, and look forward to a new set of advances in the invertebrate neuropeptide field to be revealed at INC2014, scheduled for February 16–20, 2014 in El Calafate, located within the unique landscape of the Patagonian region of Argentina. Ronald J. Nachman ∗ Insect Neuropeptide Laboratory, Insect Control and Cotton Disease Research, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2881 F&B Road, College Station, TX 77845, United States ∗ Tel.:

+1 979 260 9315; fax: +1 979 260-9377. E-mail address: [email protected]

Introduction: Invertebrate neuropeptides XIV.

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