Peptides of the Adipokinetic Hormone/Red Pigment-Concentrating Hormone Family A New Take on Biodiversity

Peptides of the adipokinetic hormone (AKH)/red pigment-concentrating hormone (RPCH) family in insects are involved in the mobilization of stored macromolecules in the fat body by activating glycogen phosphorylase or triacylglycerol lipase to increase the levels of circulating metabolites (trehalose, diacylglycerols, and also proline) during periods of intense muscular activity. Here I review the biodiversity of these peptides and outline how the 47 known bioanalogues are distributed between the different insect orders and in which species they occur.