High impact information on Leucokinin

• The deduced peptides were expressed, with a transgene for the calcium reporter aequorin, in S2 cells and only one gene (CG10626) encoded a protein that responded to Drosokinin [1].
• Antibodies raised against the receptor identified known sites of leucokinin action: stellate cells of the Malpighian tubule, two triplets of cells in the pars intercerebralis of the adult central nervous system, and additional cells in larval central nervous system [1].
• Rates of fluid secretion in tubules from c507 homozygotes are reduced, both basally, and after stimulation by CAP(2b), cAMP, or Drosophila leucokinin [2].
• The activity of another diuretic agent, leucokinin, was similarly sensitive to osmolality, suggesting that the modulation occurs downstream of the tyramine receptor [3].
• Other Leucokinin-containing neurons are not affected by mutations in ap gene [4].

Biological context of Leucokinin

• Identification of the Anopheles gambiae leucokinin gene from the completed A. gambiae genome revealed that this insect species contains three leucokinin peptides, named Anopheles leucokinin I-III [5].

Anatomical context of Leucokinin

• DLK also acted to elevate intracellular [Ca(2+)] in the Malpighian tubules by approximately threefold, with an EC(50) of 10(-)(10) to 10(-)(9 )mol l(-)(1) [6].
• Taken together, these results show that leucokinin acts through intracellular Ca2+, independently of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP, to raise the chloride permeability of the epithelium [7].

Associations of Leucokinin with chemical compounds

• Additionally, Anopheles leucokinin I displays sequence similarity to Drosophila melanogaster leucokinin [5].
• By contrast, manipulation of extracellular chloride levels, combined with stimulation with leucokinin, does not affect the potential profile across the principal cells, showing that chloride must pass through another route [7].

Regulatory relationships of Leucokinin

• Drosokinin-stimulated fluid transport is also reduced in homozygous and heteroallelic itpr mutants [8].

Other interactions of Leucokinin

• Measurements of cytosolic calcium levels in intact tubules of wild-type and itpr mutants using targeted expression of the calcium reporter, aequorin, show that mutations in itpr attenuated both CAP(2b)- and Drosokinin-stimulated calcium responses [8].
• These cells also express receptors for leucokinin, another major diuretic peptide, implying that the cells may be important in homeostatic regulation [9].
• This is the first neuropeptide receptor known from the Acari and the second known in the subfamily of leucokinin-like peptide G-protein-coupled receptors [10].

References