Unravelling the neuropeptidome of the ornate spiny lobster Panulirus ornatus: A focus on peptide hormones and their processing enzymes expressed in the reproductive tissues

• Published in: General and comparative endocrinology 2023-02, Vol.332, p.114183-114183, Article 114183
• Main Authors: Glendinning, Susan, Fitzgibbon, Quinn P., Smith, Gregory G., Ventura, Tomer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipokinetic hormone/corazonin-like peptide; Animals; Decapod; Female; Male; Neuropeptide; Neuropeptides - genetics; Neuropeptides - metabolism; Palinuridae - metabolism; Peptide Hormones - metabolism; Prohormone convertase; Semen - metabolism
• ISSN: 0016-6480; 1095-6840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114183

•Neuropeptide precursor transcript expression examined in ornate spiny lobster tissues.•Most neuropeptide precursors were produced in the neural tissues.•ACP precursor transcripts were highly expressed in the sperm duct.•PC2 transcripts were most highly expressed in neural tissues of Panulirus ornatus. Neuropeptides are commonly produced in the neural tissues yet can have effects on far-reaching targets, with varied biological responses. We describe here the neuropeptidome of the ornate spiny lobster, Panulirus ornatus, a species of emerging importance to closed-system aquaculture, with a focus on peptide hormones produced by the reproductive tissues. Transcripts for a precursor to one neuropeptide, adipokinetic hormone/corazonin-related peptide (ACP) were identified in high numbers in the sperm duct of adult spiny lobsters suggesting a role for ACP in the reproduction of this species. Neuropeptide production in the sperm duct may be linked with physiological control of spermatophore production in the male, or alternatively may function in signalling to the female. The enzymes which process nascent neuropeptide precursors into their mature, active forms have seldom been studied in decapods, and never before at the multi-tissue level. We have identified transcripts for multiple members of the proprotein convertase subtisilin/kexin family in the ornate spiny lobster, with some enzymes showing specificity to certain tissues. In addition, other enzyme transcripts involved with neuropeptide processing are identified along with their tissue and life stage expression patterns.