Primary structures of a second hyperglycemic peptide and of two truncated forms in the spiny lobster, Jasus lalandii

We have isolated a 72-amino acid peptide from extracts of sinus glands of the South African rock lobster, Jasus lalandii, and identified it, functionally and immunologically, as a hyperglycemic hormone. This is the second peptide with hyperglycemic activity found in this palinurid species and, because it occurs in smaller quantities (approximately 3 pmol/sinus gland) than the previously identified hyperglycemic hormone [14], this minor isoform is designated Jala cHH-II. The complete elucidation of the primary structure of cHH-II, as determined by automated Edman degradation of the N-terminus enzymatic digests of the non-reduced peptide, chemical cleavage and mass spectrometry, is presented here. Jala cHH-II (molecular mass of 8357 Da) is more hydrophobic than Jala cHH-I (8380 Da). The two cHHs have a free N-terminus a blocked C-terminus; and share 90% sequence homology. We also present structural data of a further two peptides isolated from sinus gland extracts that were immunopositive to cHH antisera. These peptides, with masses of 7665 and 7612 Da, structurally represent C-terminally truncated forms of the major and the minor Jala cHH peptides, respectively, but do not have any hyperglycemic activity in vivo. We demonstrate that the prevalence of these truncated forms can be reduced by the addition of proteases to the homogenization buffer during preparation of the tissues.