Neuropeptide Control of Ecdysone Biosynthesis
{'Code': '08090300', 'Directorate': {'Abbreviation': 'BIO', 'LongName': 'Direct For Biological Sciences'}, 'Division': {'Abbreviation': 'IOS', 'LongName': 'Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems'}}
{'SignBlockName': 'Vincent P. Gutschick', 'PO_EMAI': None, 'PO_PHON': None}
The prothoracic glands of insects synthesize and secrete a class                of steroidal hormones known as ecdysteroids and it is these                     ecdysteroids that cause cellular reprogramming and elicit molting               (synthesis of a new exoskeleton so that the insect can grow).                   The control of prothoracic gland activity, therefore, is                        instrumental in the success of insects on this planet and the                   main regulatory component for this control is a neuropeptide                    secreted by the brain of the insect, prothoracicotropic hormone                 (PTTH) which stimulates the prothoracic glands to synthesize and                secrete ecdysteroids.  The aim of this project is to determine at               the cellular and biochemical levels how this peptide hormone acts               on the prothoracic gland to cause the synthesis of ecdysteroids.                The principal investigators' work thus far indicates that the                   action of PTTH on the prothoracic glands is quite similar to the                action of the vertebrate ACTH on the adrenal glands.  That is,                  the peptide acts at the surface of the gland causing the                        activation of a specific enzyme, adenylate cyclase, causing an                  increase within the cells of the gland of a second messenger                    molecule, cyclic AMP (cAMP).  The cyclic AMP, in turn, activates                specific enzymes known as protein kinases which have the ability                to add a phosphate to other proteins and thus "activate" these                  proteins.  It is their plan to identify the proteins that are                   activated and determine their regulatory role in ecdysteroid                    biosynthesis.  In addition, the investigators intend to examine                 further the role of calcium in the activation of the adenylate                  cyclase to determine whether PTTH acts on the prothoracic gland                 cell by opening a channel through the membrane of the cell, the                 calcium channel, and that it is the calcium-calmodulin system                   within the cell that directly affects the adenylate cyclase.                                                                                                    These studies have significance for all animals including man                   because of the close analogy between the PTTH-prothoracic gland                 axis and the ACTH-adrenal cortex axis.  In addition, insects are                the most prevalent form of animal life on this planet and it is                 obvious that one should learn more about these very successful                  organisms from an academic point of view and because with such                  information they may be able to design better means for                         controlling harmful insects.  Insects are of great importance as                vectors of disease and as devastators of agricultural products.                 By interfering with the insect's molting process, one could                     theoretically control specific insect populations.
[{'FirstName': 'Wendell', 'LastName': 'Combest', 'PI_MID_INIT': 'L', 'PI_SUFX_NAME': None, 'PI_FULL_NAME': 'Wendell L Combest', 'EmailAddress': None, 'NSF_ID': '000374904', 'StartDate': '10/15/1988', 'EndDate': None, 'RoleCode': 'Co-Principal Investigator'}, {'FirstName': 'Lawrence', 'LastName': 'Gilbert', 'PI_MID_INIT': 'I', 'PI_SUFX_NAME': None, 'PI_FULL_NAME': 'Lawrence I Gilbert', 'EmailAddress': 'lgilbert@unc.edu', 'NSF_ID': '000158319', 'StartDate': '10/15/1988', 'EndDate': None, 'RoleCode': 'Principal Investigator'}]
{'Name': 'University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill', 'CityName': 'CHAPEL HILL', 'ZipCode': '275995023', 'PhoneNumber': '9199663411', 'StreetAddress': '104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200', 'StreetAddress2': None, 'CountryName': 'United States', 'StateName': 'North Carolina', 'StateCode': 'NC', 'CONGRESSDISTRICT': '04', 'CONGRESS_DISTRICT_ORG': 'NC04', 'ORG_UEI_NUM': 'D3LHU66KBLD5', 'ORG_LGL_BUS_NAME': 'UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL', 'ORG_PRNT_UEI_NUM': 'N8DMK1K4C2K5'}
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{'Code': '1141', 'Text': 'PHYSIOLOG & STRUCTURAL SYS'}
{'url': 'https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/download?DownloadFileName=1988&All=true', 'xml': '8802108.xml'}