Effects of alloferon and its analogues on reproduction and development of the Tenebrio molitor beetle.

As the most numerous group of animals on Earth, insects are found in almost every ecosystem. Their useful role in the environment is priceless; however, for humans, their presence may be considered negative or even harmful. For years, people have been trying to control the number of pests by using synthetic insecticides, which eventually causes an increased level of resistance to applied compounds.

Analgesic Peptides: From Natural Diversity to Rational Design.

Pain affects one-third of the global population and is a significant public health issue. The use of opioid drugs, which are the strongest painkillers, is associated with several side effects, such as tolerance, addiction, overdose, and even death. An increasing demand for novel, safer analgesic agents is a driving force for exploring natural sources of bioactive peptides with antinociceptive activity.

Disruption of insect immunity using analogs of the pleiotropic insect peptide hormone Neb-colloostatin: a nanotech approach for pest control II.

This work continues our studies on the pleiotropic activity of the insect peptide Neb-colloostatin in insects. In vivo immunological bioassays demonstrated that hemocytotoxic analogs of Neb-colloostatin injected into Tenebrio molitor significantly reduced the number of hemocytes in the hemolymph and impaired phagocytosis, nodulation and phenoloxidase activities in the insects. Among the analogs tested, [Ala]-,[Val]-, [Hyp]- and [Ach]-colloostatin were particularly potent in disrupting cellular immunity in larvae, pupae and adult insects.

Argireline: Needle-Free Botox as Analytical Challenge.

Argireline-containing cosmetics attract public interest due to their confirmed reduction of facial wrinkles. Argireline is a peptide that works by inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters in the neuromuscular junction, producing a botox-like effect. Therefore, it is used as a safe needle-free alternative to botox treatment.

Short neuropeptide F signaling regulates functioning of male reproductive system in Tenebrio molitor beetle.

Neuropeptides of short neuropeptides F family (sNPF) have been identified in various arthropods. They are pleiotropic neuromolecules which so far have been mainly associated with regulation of feeding and metabolism, as well as growth and development, locomotion, circadian rhythm or learning and memory. Here, we describe the effects of Tenebrionid sNPF peptide (SGRSPSLRLRFa) on various aspects of the male reproductive physiology in the Tenebrio molitor beetle.

FMRFamide-Related Peptides Signaling Is Involved in the Regulation of Muscle Contractions in Two Tenebrionid Beetles.

Peptidergic signaling regulates various physiological processes in insects. Neuropeptides are important messenger molecules that act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators or hormones. Neuropeptides with myotropic properties in insects are known as FMRFamide-like peptides (FaLPs).

Sulfakinin Signalling Influences Fatty Acid Levels and Composition in Tenebrio Molitor Beetle.

Background: Sulfakinins are arthropod neuropeptides that are structurally and functionally similar to vertebrate gastrin-cholecystokinin. Sulfakinins with sulfated tyrosine (sSK) or nonsulfated tyrosine (nSK) in the C-terminated heptapeptide XY(SO3H)GHMRFamide display different biological functions, including myotropic activity, inhibition of food intake, stimulation of digestive enzymes and regulation of carbohydrate and lipid content.

Objective: To reveal the mechanisms by which sulfakinin signalling modulates lipid homeostasis, we analysed the changes in the level and composition of fatty acids and organic compounds in the fat body and haemolymph of Tenebrio molitor larvae after nSK and sSK treatment.

Copper(ii) complexes with alloferon analogues containing phenylalanine H6F and H12F stability and biological activity lower stabilization of complexes compared to analogues containing tryptophan.

Copper(ii) complex formation processes between alloferon 1 (Allo1) (H1 GVSGH6 GQH9 GVH12G) analogues where the phenylalanine residue is introduced in the place of His residue H6F and H12F have been studied by potentiometric, UV-visible, CD and EPR spectroscopic, and MS methods. For the phenylalanine analogues of alloferon 1, complex speciation has been obtained for a 1 : 1, 2 : 1 and 3 : 1 metal-to-ligand molar ratio. At physiological pH and in 1 : 1 metal-to-ligand molar ratio the phenylalanine analogues of alloferon 1 form a CuL complex similar to that of alanine analogues with the 4N{NH2,N1Im,2NIm} coordination mode.

Impairment of the immune response after transcuticular introduction of the insect gonadoinhibitory and hemocytotoxic peptide Neb-colloostatin: A nanotech approach for pest control.

This article shows that nanodiamonds can transmigrate through the insect cuticle easily, and the doses used were not hemocytotoxic and did not cause inhibition of cellular and humoral immune responses in larvae, pupae and adults of Tenebrio molitor. The examination of the nanodiamond biodistribution in insect cells demonstrated the presence of nanodiamond aggregates mainly in hemocytes, where nanoparticles were efficiently collected as a result of phagocytosis. To a lesser extent, nanodiamond aggregates were also detected in fat body cells, while they were not observed in Malpighian tubule cells.

Myotropic activity of allatostatins in tenebrionid beetles.

Neuropeptides control the functioning of the nervous system of insects, and they are the most diverse signalling molecules in terms of structure and function. Allatostatins are pleiotropic neuropeptides that are considered potent myoinhibitors of muscle contractions in insects. We investigated the effects caused by three distinct allatostatins, Dippu-AST1 (LYDFGL-NH from Diploptera punctata), Grybi-MIP1 (GWQDLNGGW-NH from Gryllus bimaculatus) and Trica-ASTC (pESRYRQCYFNPISCF-OH from Tribolium castaneum) on contractile activity of the myocardium, oviduct and hindgut of two tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas atratus.

New activity of yamamarin, an insect pentapeptide, on immune system of mealworm, Tenebrio molitor.

In insects, two types of the immune responses, cellular and humoral, constitute a defensive barrier against various parasites and pathogens. In response to pathogens, insects produce a wide range of immune agents that act on pathogens directly, such as cecropins or lysozyme, or indirectly by the stimulation of hemocyte migration or by increasing phenoloxidase (PO) activity. Recently, many new immunologically active substances from insects, such as peptides and polypeptides, have been identified.

The long-term immunological effects of alloferon and its analogues in the mealworm Tenebrio molitor.

The subject of this article is a search for the long-term immunological effects of alloferon and 3 structural analogues of alloferon, which were earlier characterized by the highest pro-apoptotic activity in Tenebrio molitor. The differences in the actions of these peptides on immune response were observed. Alloferon increased nodulation and significantly phenoloxidase activity in the hemolymph of experimentally infected T.

High stability and biological activity of the copper(II) complexes of alloferon 1 analogues containing tryptophan.

Copper(II) complex formation processes between the alloferon 1 (Allo1) (HGVSGHGQHGVHG) analogues where the tryptophan residue is introducing in the place His residue H1W, H6W, H9W and H12W have been studied by potentiometric, UV-visible, CD and EPR spectroscopic, and MS methods. For all analogues of alloferon 1 complex speciation have been obtained for a 1:1 metal-to-ligand molar ratio and 2:1 of H1W because of precipitation at higher (2:1, 3:1 and 4:1) ratios. At physiological pH7.

Novel analogs of alloferon: Synthesis, conformational studies, pro-apoptotic and antiviral activity.

In this study, we report the structure-activity relationships of novel derivatives of the insect peptide alloferon (H-His-Gly-Val-Ser-Gly-His-Gly-Gln-His-Gly-Val-His-Gly-OH). The peptide structure was modified by exchanging His at position 9 or 12 for natural or non-natural amino acids. Biological properties of these peptides were determined in antiviral in vitro test against Human Herpes Virus 1 McIntrie strain (HHV-1MC) using a Vero cell line.

Copper(II) complexes of terminally free alloferon mutants containing two histidyl binding sites inside peptide chain structure and stability.

Mononuclear and polynuclear copper(II) complexes of alloferon 1 with point mutations, H1A/H12A H2N-A(1)GVSGH(6)GQH(9)GVA(12)G-COOH, H1A/H9A H2N-A(1)GVSGH(6)GQA(9)GVH(12)G-COOH, and H1A/H6A H2N-A(1)GVSGA(6)GQH(9)GVH(12)G-COOH, have been studied by potentiometric, UV-visible, CD, and EPR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry (MS) methods. Complete complex speciation at different metal-to-ligand molar ratios ranging from 1 : 1 to 3 : 1 was obtained. Over a wide 6-8 pH range, including physiological pH 7.

Distribution in Rats Internal Organs of Intraperitoneally Given 125I-Labeled Heptapeptide [2-8]-Leucopyrokinin ([2-8]-LPK), a Truncated Analog of Insect Neuropeptide Leucopyrokinin.

Background: It was previously found that synthetic, insect-derived octapeptide leucopyrokinin (LPK) applied directly into the lateral brain ventricle induced a significant antinociceptive effect in rats. Its synthetic truncated analog heptapeptide [2-8]-leucopyrokinin displayed a stronger antinociceptive effect in comparison to native LPK. Moreover it was previously found a high accumulation of these both 125I-labeled peptides in adrenals, as well as in hypothalamus and in hippocampus of rats brain.

Copper(II) complexes of terminally free alloferon peptide mutants containing two different histidyl (H(1) and H(6) or H(9) or H(12)) binding sites Structure Stability and Biological Activity.

Mono- and dinuclear copper(II) complexes of the alloferon 1 with point mutations H9A/H12A H(1)GVSGH(6)GQA(9)GVA(12)G, H6A/H12A H(1)GVSGA(6)GQH(9)GVA(12)G and H6A/H9A H(1)GVSGA(6)GQA(9)GVH(12)G have been studied by potentiometric, UV-visible, CD, EPR spectroscopic, and mass spectrometry (MS) methods. Complete complex speciation at metal-to-ligand molar ratios 1:1 and 2:1 was obtained. For all systems studied in the 5 - 6.

Effect of alloferon 1 on central nervous system in rats.

Alloferon 1 is an insect-derived peptide with potent antimicrobial and antitumor activity. It was isolated from blood of an experimentally infected insect, the blow fly Callifora vicina. Synthetic alloferon 1 reveals a capacity to stimulate activity of NK cells and synthesis IFN in animal and human models.

Copper(II) complexes of alloferon 1 with point mutations (H1A) and (H9A) stability structure and biological activity.

Mono- and polynuclear copper(II) complexes of the alloferon 1 with point mutations (H1A) A(1)GVSGH(6)GQH(9)GVH(12)G (Allo1A) and (H9A) H(1)GVSGH(6)GQA(9)GVH(12)G (Allo9A) have been studied by potentiometric, UV-visible, CD, EPR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry (MS) methods. To obtain a complete complex speciation different metal-to-ligand molar ratios ranging from 1:1 to 4:1 for Allo1A and to 3:1 for Allo9A were studied. The presence of the His residue in first position of the peptide chain changes the coordination abilities of the Allo9A peptide in comparison to that of the Allo1A.

The natural insect peptide Neb-colloostatin induces ovarian atresia and apoptosis in the mealworm Tenebrio molitor.

Background: The injection of Neb-colloostatin into T. molitor females causes gonadoinhibitory effects on ovarian development. This peptide inhibits intercellular space formation (patency) in follicular epithelium and results in slowed vitellogenesis, delayed ovulation, reduced number of eggs laid and presumably cell death in the terminal follicles.

UCP4 expression changes in larval and pupal fat bodies of the beetle Zophobas atratus under adipokinetic hormone treatment.

We investigated the influence of adipokinetic hormone (AKH), an insect neurohormone, on uncoupling protein 4 (ZaUCP4) expression and activity in larval and pupal fat body mitochondria of the beetle Zophobas atratus in relation to intermediary metabolism. Homologous Tenmo-AKH was administered to the beetle larvae and pupae as either a single dose or as two doses of 20pmol during a 24h interval. In the larval and pupal fat bodies, downregulation of ZaUCP4 expression at the mRNA and protein levels was observed 24h and 48h after AKH treatment, respectively.

Mono- and polynuclear copper(II) complexes of alloferons 1 with point mutations (H6A) and (H12A): stability structure and cytotoxicity.

Mononuclear and polynuclear copper(II) complexes of the alloferons 1 (Allo1) with point mutations (H6A) H(1)GVSGA(6)GQH(9)GVH(12)G-COOH (Allo6A) and (H12A) H(1)GVSGH(6)GQH(9)GVA(12)G-COOH (Allo12A) have been studied by potentiometric, UV-visible, CD, EPR spectroscopic, and mass spectrometry (MS) methods. Complete complex speciation at different metal-to-ligand ratios ranging from 1:1 to 3:1 was obtained. At physiological pH 7.