Head-Peptide Antibody

The anti-head peptide recognizes the Periplaneta-head peptide (ANRSLRLRF-NH2-GA-PL), GA: Glutardialdehyd, PL: Polylysin. The Periplaneta-head peptide was isolated and sequenced from the midgut of the American cockroach. The "head peptides" form a distinct family among the so-called FMRFamide-related peptides (FaRPs) of insects, along with myosup-pressins, sulfakinins, and more broadly, FMRFamides. It is known that antisera against FMRFamides often require only the last two amino acids (RFamides) for their recognition, thus also recognizing neuropeptides of other FaRP families. This general rule does not seem to apply to the head peptides, because only very low cross-reactivity to the FMRFamides was detected in the immunoassay. Thus, the antibodies against leucomyosuppressin and perisulfakinin used by us at APO remained without immunoreactivity. The FMRFamide antibody used so effectively on the lateral cardiac nerve of the Ameican cockroach also remained without effect on APO.