From bioassays to Drosophila genetics: strategies for characterizing an essential insect neurohormone, bursicon.

We describe the molecular analysis and cellular expression of the insect peptide neurohormone, bursicon. Bursicon triggers the sclerotization of the soft insect cuticle after ecdysis. Using protein elution analyses from SDS gels, we determined the molecular weight of bursicon from different insects to be approximately 30 kDa.

Cellular localization of bursicon using antisera against partial peptide sequences of this insect cuticle-sclerotizing neurohormone.

Bursicon is the final neurohormone released at the end of the molting cycle. It triggers the sclerotization (tanning) of the insect cuticle. Until now, its existence has been verified only by bioassays.