Packaging of DNA in cricket sperm. A compact mode of DNA packaging.

The packaging of DNA in the sperm of the house cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) was investigated by microscopical and diffraction methods. The principle of DNA packaging in the cricket sperm is parallel bundling. This is in contrast with that in somatic cells, which assumes successive supercoiling. About 240 threads of DNA are bundled into one 300 A fiber, and then more than 200 fibers (300 A) are packed in a parallel manner in one nucleus. Therefore, DNA is oriented so that its helix axis is parallel with the long axis of the nucleus. This simple packaging of DNA is maintained by a newly discovered protein, 17 K protein; no histones were found. The packaging ratio (the ratio of the volume of DNA to that of the suprastructure) of the chromatin is about 1 and shows an effectiveness much higher than that of the nucleosome solenoid structure. The mode of packaging DNA in cricket sperm is different from the nucleosome structure, and is a quite new type of packaging.

Distribution of biogenic amines in the cricket central nervous system.

The distribution of biogenic amines, their precursors, and metabolites in the central nervous system (CNS) of the cricket was determined using HPLC with electrochemical detection. Three biogenic amines, octopamine (OA), dopamine (DA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT); two precursors, tyramine and tryptophan; and two metabolites, synephrine and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, were detected in all ganglia. In the brain, 5-HT occurred in the largest quantities followed by OA, while in other ganglia OA occurred in the largest quantities followed by 5-HT and DA. In all ganglia, the amount of OA was two to nine times greater than that of DA. The results are discussed in comparison with different insect species.

Primary sequence analysis by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of a peptide with adipokinetic activity from the corpora cardiaca of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus.

The octapeptide AKH-G, isolated from the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, stimulates lipid mobilization in both the cricket itself and in migratory locusts. The structure of AKH-G has been assigned by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS) as pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Thr-Gly-Trp-NH2, and it is most closely related to AKH II-S from Schistocerca species, which has a Leu2 unit. Synthetic AKH-G, prepared by solid phase techniques, had the same bioactivity as the natural substance. FABMS measurements, including high-resolution and metastable studies, were made employing 400-900 pmole of sample.

Immunological probes reveal spatial and developmental diversity in insect neuroglia.

A set of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) has been generated that recognizes distinct classes of neuroglia in the adult nervous system of the cricket Acheta domesticus corresponding to glial types distinguished by morphological criteria. These include antibodies that bind to the neuroglia of the ganglionic cortex, perineurium, neuropil, and glia associated with the glial lacunar system (interface) and fiber tracts. Another MAb specifically labels components of the neural lamella, a complex extracellular matrix secreted by underlying perineurial cells. Selected adult glial-specific MAbs recognize particular glial antigens expressed during embryonic development of Acheta. Immunohistochemical staining of frozen sections of late- (90-95%) and intermediate- (50-55%) stage whole embryos reveals that the spatial distribution, degree of tissue restriction, or level of expression of some glial determinants changes as development proceeds. Labeling of certain neuroblasts in the embryonic CNS at 50-55% development by an antibody (MAb 3G6) that binds to neuropil glia in the adult CNS implies that at least 1 class of insect glia may be generated by these cells.

Determination by HPLC-RIA of immunoreactive prostaglandin E2 in Blattella germanica and Gryllus bimaculatus.

The application of a combined HPLC-RIA methodology to estimate immunoreactive PGE2 levels in two insect species, namely, males of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera, Gryllidae) and males and females of Blattella germanica (Dictyoptera, Blattellidae) is reported. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that, whereas in the crickets the presence of a female does exert a stimulating effect on the PGE2 levels of the male, in cockroaches nonsignificant differences on PGE2 contents were observed among virgin and mated individuals under the conditions assayed, thus suggesting that the biosynthetic pattern of this prostanoid in the cricket studied cannot be extended to the case of the Dictyoptera.