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. 1985 Aug;82(16):5319–5322. doi: 10.1073/pnas.82.16.5319

Characterization of a pigment-dispersing hormone in eyestalks of the fiddler crab Uca pugilator

K Ranga Rao *, John P Riehm *, Cynthia A Zahnow *, Lewis H Kleinholz †, George E Tarr ‡, Linda Johnson ‡, Sheila Norton ‡, Matthew Landau *, Oliver J Semmes *, R Mark Sattelberg *, William H Jorenby *, Mary F Hintz *
PMCID: PMC390559  PMID: 16593589

Abstract

A pigment-dispersing hormone (PDH) from eyestalks of the fiddler crab Uca pugilator has been purified by gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, partition chromatography, and reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Based on automated gas-phase sequencing and subsequent identification of carboxyl-terminal amide, we have assigned the primary structure of this peptide as Asn-Ser-Glu-Leu-Ile-Asn-Ser-Ile-Leu-Gly-Leu-Pro-Lys-Val-Met-Asn-Asp-Ala-NH 2. We have confirmed the sequence by synthesizing this peptide and demonstrating that the synthetic PDH and the native PDH display identical chromatographic behavior and biological activity. This hormone is a member of a family of invertebrate neuropeptides that includes a light-adapting/pigment-dispersing octadecapeptide hormone from the prawn Pandalus borealis. In assays for melanophore pigment dispersion in destalked fiddler crabs, Uca PDH was 21-fold more potent than Pandalus PDH. These two hormones share a hexapeptide core sequence (residues 5-10: -Ile-Asn-Ser-Ile-Leu-Gly-) as well as the amino- and carboxyl-terminal residues but differ at positions 3, 4, 11, 13, 16, and 17. These results point to speciesrelated or group-specific structural differences among crustacean PDHs.

Keywords: invertebrate neuropeptide, chromatophorotropin, color change, amino acid sequence, peptide synthesis

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Selected References

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