02125nas a2200253   4500008004600000245009500046210006900141300001400210490000700224520130100231653002401532653001201556653002101568653004601589653002801635653002801663653003301691653002001724653002301744100001101767700002101778700002201799856005001821       Submitted                   eng d     00aNeuropeptide-like precursor 4 is uniquely expressed during pupal diapause in the flesh fly0 aNeuropeptidelike precursor 4 is uniquely expressed during pupal   a518 - 5210 v303 aSuppression subtractive hybridization comparing brains from diapausing and nondiapausing pupae of the flesh fly, Sarcophaga crassipalpis, suggested that the gene encoding neuropeptide-like precursor 4 (Nplp4) was uniquely expressed during diapause. We have sequenced the full-length cDNA encoding Nplp4 and used Northern blots to further evaluate linkage to diapause. The open reading frame of this cDNA encodes a 61-amino acid residue precursor protein containing a predicted 18 residue signal peptide, one 22-amino acid and one 2-amino acid propeptides, and a 19-amino acid neuropeptide. The amino acid sequence of the precursor protein shows 64% identity to Drosophila melanogaster Nplp4; homologues of this precursor protein are not known from species other than these two flies. Nplp4 mRNA levels were quite low in nondiapausing (long day) pupae, but in contrast the gene was highly upregulated in diapausing (short day) pupae. Expression increased at the onset of diapause, remained high throughout diapause, and then decreased 2 days after diapause was terminated. Although the function of this precursor protein and the neuropeptide it yields remain unknown, this close association with diapause suggests a potential role for Nplp4 in initiating and maintaining diapause in the flesh fly.10aAmino Acid Sequence10aAnimals10aDiptera/genetics10aGene Expression Regulation, Developmental10aMolecular Sequence Data10aNeuropeptides/*genetics10aProtein Precursors/*genetics10aPupa/metabolism10aSequence Alignment1 aLi, A.1 aRinehart, J., P.1 aDenlinger, D., L.  uhttps://sarcophagidae.myspecies.info/node/282