Immunological identification of crustacean androgenic gland hormone, a glycopeptide

Androgenic gland hormone (AGH) is known to be responsible for sex differentiation in crustaceans. The amino acid sequence of AGH-active fraction purified from androgenic glands of the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare was determined by immunoprecipitation employing three types of antibodies raised against differing parts of the amino acid sequence deduced from the putative AGH cDNA sequence. As all antibodies adsorbed AGH activity, it was confirmed that the sequence examined was that of AGH. The affinity of AGH to certain lectins indicated that AGH possesses a carbohydrate moiety, which is in agreement with the observation that AGH possesses an N-glycosylation consensus sequence.