Insect diapause-specific peptide from the leaf beetle has consensus with a putative iridovirus peptide

Diapause and hibernation during periods of environmental adversity are essential features of the life cycle in many organisms, yet the molecular basis for these events differs among animals. We have identified an endogenous diapause/hibernation-specific peptide, from the leaf beetle Gastrophysa atrocyanea. This peptide provides antifungal activity, acts as a N-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel blocker, and has a new consensus sequence with an unknown polypeptide encoded in the insect iridescent virus. These results indicate that the diapause-specific peptide may be utilized as a probe to analyze and compare functional and evolutional aspects of the life cycles of insects and iridoviruses.