Molecular size of the diapause hormone of the silkworm Bombyx mori.

The diapause hormone (DH) responsible for arrested development of the silkworm Bombix mori consists of two active principles of peptide (A and B). Since both hormones form aggregates in aqueous phases, the molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography of Merckogel OR 6000 using methanol-dichloromethane mixture as the developing agent. Gramicidins and modified peptides soluble in the organic solvents were used as the standard markers for the molecular weight measurements of the hormones. The molecular weights of DH-A and -B are estimated to be 3300 +/- 400 and 2000 +/- 200, respectively.