Reconstitution of adipokinetic hormone biosynthesis in vitro indicates steps in prohormone processing

We have used a complete, synthetic precursor to adipokinetic hormone I (AKH I) and oligopeptides derived from this precursor as substrates for prohormone-processing enzymes extracted from AKH-synthesizing neurosecretory cells to reconstitute the post-translational steps in AKH biosynthesis in vitro. The results demonstrate the existence of endoproteolytic activity which cleaves the precursor only at the appropriate processing site (at the C-terminal side of Arg13). Further proteolytic processing of C-terminally extended AKH I (AKH-Gly-Lys-Arg) by a carboxypeptidase H-like activity removes the basic residues producing AKH-Gly-Lys, followed by AKH-Gly. Finally, a peptidylglycine-alpha-amidating-monooxygenase activity produces the amidated bioactive product from the glycine-extended peptide in a two-step process, the first of which requires ascorbate and Cu2+. Our results show that all steps in AKH precursor processing can be reconstituted and studied in vitro, providing a system to characterize the processing enzymes and to investigate the development of enzyme inhibitors for use as potential insecticides.