CAPA-peptides of praying mantids (Mantodea)

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Neuroendocrinology
• Insect Physiology

Background:

• Dictyoptera (cockroaches, termites, praying mantids) are ancient insects.
• Neuropeptide sequences are well-known in cockroaches but largely unknown in praying mantids.
• Understanding praying mantid neuropeptides is crucial for comparative insect neurobiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neuroanatomy of the median neuroendocrine system in the abdominal ventral nerve cord of Mantodea.
• To determine the sequences of CAPA-peptides expressed in praying mantid neuroendocrine cells.
• To compare praying mantid CAPA-peptides with those of other Dictyoptera.

Main Methods:

• Neuroanatomical analysis of the abdominal ventral nerve cord.
• Sequencing of CAPA-peptides from 40 Mantodea species.
• Comparative sequence analysis with cockroach CAPA-peptides.

Main Results:

• Praying mantids predominantly express two CAPA-periviskerokinins (PVKs), with a third identified only in Mantis religiosa.
• These PVKs are evolutionarily related to those found in basal cockroaches (Polyphagidae).
• Extended forms of PVK-2 were observed in closely related Mantodea (Paramantinae), likely due to N-terminal cleavage site substitutions.
• No CAPA-pyrokinin was detected in any studied praying mantid species.

Conclusions:

• Praying mantids exhibit a distinct CAPA-peptide profile compared to cockroaches, primarily featuring two PVKs.
• The findings suggest evolutionary divergence in CAPA-peptide systems within Dictyoptera.
• This study provides foundational data on praying mantid neuropeptides, highlighting conserved and divergent features.