Mass Spectrometric Evidence for the Deficinecy in the Dark-Color-Inducing Hormone, [His~7]-Corazonin in an Albino Strain of Locusta migratoria as Well as for Its Presence in Solitary Schistocerca gregaria

摘要

A factor present in the brain and corpus cardiacum respon- sible for the induction of dark colour in Locusta migratoria was recently isolated and identified from the corpora cardiaca of normally pigmented locusts. The purification of this factor, designated as [His7]-corazonin was monitored using an albino mutant from a laboratory colony of an Okinawa (Japan) strain. In this study, we provide unequivocal mass spectrometric evi- dence that the brain and the corpora cardiaca of this albino Locusta mutant are deficient in [His7]-corazonin. Previously, [His7]-corazonin was shown to be responsible for the induc- tion of dark body colour patterns as observed in crowded locusts. Using nanoflow-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that this dark colour-inducing hormone is, how- ever, present in the corpora cardiaca of solitary locusts (Schistocerca gregaria). Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 47:150- 160, 2001.