Three distinct cDNAs encoding the preproadipokinetic hormones I, II, and III (prepro-AKH I, II, and III), respectively, of Locusta migratoria have been isolated and sequenced. The three L. migratoria AKH precursors have an overall architecture similar to that of other precursors of the AKH/red pigment-concentrating hormone (RPCH) family identified so far. The AKH I and II precursors of L. migratoria are highly homologous to the Schistocerca gregaria and Schistocerca nitans AKH precursors. Although the L. migratoria AKH III precursor appears to be the least homologous to the Manduca sexta, Drosophila melanogaster, and Carcinus maenas AKH/RPCH precursors, we favor the opinion that the L. migratoria AKH III precursor is evolutionary more related to the M. sexta, D. melanogaster, and C. maenas AKH/RPCH precursors than to the AKH I and II precursors of S. gregaria, S. nitans, or L. migratoria. In situ hybridization showed signals for the different AKH mRNAs to be co-localized in cell bodies of the glandular lobes of the corpora cardiaca. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of single mRNA species encoding the AKH I precursor (ϳ570 bases), AKH II precursor (ϳ600 bases), and AKH III precursor (ϳ670 bases), respectively. Interestingly, flight activity increased steady-state levels of the AKH I and II mRNAs (ϳ2.0 times each) and the AKH III mRNA (ϳ4.2 times) in the corpora cardiaca.Three peptide hormones with hyperlipemic activity, the adipokinetic hormones I, II and III (AKH 1 I, II and III; see Table I) (1-3), are synthesized by the glandular neurosecretory cells of the corpora cardiaca (CC) of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria. These peptides are members of a large family of structurally related but functionally diverse peptides (the AKH/RPCH family) (4). In the adult locust, the AKHs I and II are released into the hemolymph during flight and are involved in the mobilization of lipid and carbohydrate from the fat body to serve as energy substrates for the flight muscles (4 -7). Data on the release and functioning of AKH III are lacking so far. Isolation and characterization of CC peptides revealed that two other locust species, Schistocerca gregaria and Schistocerca nitans, each contain two AKHs that are mutually identical (1, 8), whereas Manduca sexta and Drosophila melanogaster each contain only one AKH (9, 10) (see Table I).Molecular biological studies have resulted in the characterization of the structure of the AKH/RPCH precursors (a signal peptide, AKH/RPCH, a Gly-(Lys/Arg)-Arg sequence, and an AKH/RPCH-associated peptide (AAP/RAP), in this order) of S. gregaria, S. nitans, M. sexta, D. melanogaster,.The biosynthesis of the AKHs in S. gregaria has been elucidated in detail by O'Shea and co-workers (13, 18 -21). The signal peptide is co-translationally removed from prepro-AKH, generating pro-AKH. Next, proteolytic processing, which is preceded by dimerization of two pro-AKHs (I/I, I/II, or II/II) via their single COOH-terminal Cys residues, gives rise to two AKHs (I and/or II) and one homo-or hete...