Neuropeptides associated with the central nervous system of the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum (L)

▶ First identification of neuropeptides from the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum. ▶ Most peptides distributed throughout the central nervous system. ▶ AKH restricted to the retrocerebral complex. Sulfakinins and FMRFamides present only in brain/SOG and thoracic-abdominal ganglion. ▶ Two novel dipteran FMRFamides and an A-type allatostatin identified. The peptidome of the central nervous system of adult cabbage root fly, Delia radicum (L) was investigated using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Over twenty neuropeptides were identified from three different tissue sources, the combined brain/suboesophageal ganglion (SOG), the retrocerebral complex, and the thoracic-abdominal ganglion (TAG). A number of peptides were identified in all three tissues, including allatostatins, short neuropeptide F-like peptides, corazonin, a pyrokinin, and a myosuppressin. Adipokinetic hormone was restricted to the retrocerebral complex. Other peptides, including FMRFamides and sulfakinins were detected only in the brain/SOG and TAG. Some peptides, notably myoinhibitory peptides and tachykinins, which have been identified in other fly species, were not detected in any tissue sample. This study has structurally characterized for the first time, the neuropeptides from adult D. radicum.