Structures of two cockroach neuropeptides assigned by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Amino acid sequences have been assigned to two cockroach neuropeptides (greater than Glu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Asn-Trp-NH2, M I, and greater than Glu-Leu-Thr-Phe-Thr-Pro-Asn-Trp-NH2, M II) by application of fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, including high resolution and linked scan (metastable) studies. The peptides show considerable homology with two other invertebrate neuropeptides, adipokinetic hormone (AKH, from a locust) and red pigment concentrating hormone (RPCH, from a prawn), whose fast atom bombardment spectra were also studied. M I and M II are thus members of a family of structurally-related invertebrate neuropeptides.