Professor Emeritus Our research focuses on regulatory peptides of the endocrine and nervous systems. We are studying how peptides of the gut and brain coordinate digestive processes of insects. To understand functional systems, we examine both peptide-producing tissues, by immunological and biochemical techniques, and their physiological targets, by bioassay and molecular characterization of receptors. Note: I retired in 2009. No new positions in the laboratory are available for students or research staff. Research Research Interests: Comparative endocrinology; endocrinology and regulation of insect digestion; insect neuropeptides and receptors Selected Publications Huang, Y., J.W. Crim, A.B. Nuss and M.R. Brown. 2011. Neuropeptide F and the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea: A midgut peptide revisited. Peptides 32(3):483-492. Wen, Z., M. Gulia, K.D. Clark, A. Dhara, J.W. Crim, M.R. Strand and M.R. Brown. 2010. Two insulin-like peptide family members from the mosquito Aedes aegypti exhibit differential biological and receptor binding activities. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 328(1-2):47-55. Predel, R., S. Neupert, S.F Garczynski, J.W. Crim, M.R. Brown, W.K. Russell, J. Kahnt, D.H. Russell and R.J. Nachman. 2010. Neuropeptidomics of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. J. Proteome Res. 9(4):2006-2015. Nuss, A.B., B.T. Forschler, J.W. Crim, V. TeBrugge, J. Pohl and M.R. Brown. 2010. Molecular characterization of neuropeptide F from the Eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Peptides 31(3): 419-428. Brown, M.R., K.D. Clark, M. Gulia, Z. Zhao, S.F. Garczynski, J.W. Crim, R.J. Sunderman and M.R. Strand. 2008. An insulin-like peptide regulates egg maturation and metabolism in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 105(15):5716-5721. Nuss, A.B., B.T. Forschler, J.W. Crim and M.R. Brown. 2008. Distribution of neuropeptide F-like immunoreactivity in the Eastern subterranean termite,Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). J. Insect Sci. 8(57):insectscience.org/8.57. Garczynski, S.F., J.W. Crim and M.R. Brown. 2007. Characterization and expression of the short neuropeptide F receptor in the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. Peptides 28:109-118. Garczynski, S.F., M.R. Brown and J.W. Crim. 2006. Structural studies of Drosophila short neuropeptide F: occurrence and receptor binding activity. Peptides 27:575-582. Garczynski, S.F., J.W. Crim and M.R. Brown. 2005. "Characterization of neuropeptide F and its receptor in the African malarial mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. Peptides 26:99-107. Clark, K.D., S.F. Garczynski, A. Arora, J.W. Crim and M.R. Strand. 2004. Specific residues in plasmatocyte spreading peptide are required for receptor binding and functional antagonism of insect immune cells. J. Biol. Chem. 279:33246-33252. Johnson, E.C., S.F. Garczynski, D. Park, J.W. Crim, D.R. Nassel and P.H. Taghert. 2003. Identification and characterization of a G-protein coupled receptor for the neuropeptide proctolin in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100:6198-6203. Riehle, M.A., S.F. Garczynski, J.W. Crim, C.A. Hill and M.R. Brown. 2002. Regulatory peptides in the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. Science 298:172-175. Crim, J.W., S.F. Garczynski and M.R. Brown. 2002. Approaches to radioiodination of insect neuropeptides. Peptides 23:2045-2051. Stanek, D.M., J. Pohl, J.W. Crim, and M.R. Brown. 2002. Neuropeptide F and its expression in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Peptides 23:1367-1378. Garczynski, S.F., M.R. Brown, P. Shen, T.F. Murray, and J.W. Crim. 2002. Characterization of a functional Neuropeptide F receptor from Drosophila melanogaster. Peptides 23:773-780. Garczynski, S.F., M.R. Brown, T.F. Murray, and J.W. Crim. 2001. Activity of Drosophila Neuropeptide F. In: H.J. Th. Goos, R.K. Rastogi, H. Vaudry, and R. Pierantoni (eds.), Perspective in Comparative Endocrinology: Unity and Diversity, pp. 571-576. Monduzzi Editore, Bologna, Italy. Brown, M.R., J.W. Crim, R.C. Arata, H.N. Cai, C. Chun, and P. Shen. 1999. Identification of a Drosophila brain-gut peptide related to the neuropeptide Y family. Peptides 20:1035-1042. Huang, Y., M.R. Brown, T.D. Lee, and J.W. Crim. 1998. RF-amide peptides isolated from the midgut of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea, resemble pancreatic polypeptide. Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 28: 345-356. Huang, Y., J.W. Crim, and M.R. Brown. 1996. Midgut regulatory peptides, Hez-MP-I and II, in corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea. Am. Zool. 36:31A. Brown, M.R., M.J. Klowden, J.W. Crim, L.Young, L.A. Shrouder, and A.O. Lea. 1994. Endogenous regulation of mosquito host-seeking behavior by a neuropeptide. J. Insect Physiol. 40:399-406. Crim, J.W., A.C. Jenkins, and M.R. Brown. 1992. A mosquito neuropeptide in a moth larva Helicoverpa zea: A subset of FMRF-amide immunoreactivity. Tissue & Cell 24:537-545. Crim, J.W., A.C. Jenkins, M.R. Brown, G.A. Herzog, and A.O. Lea. 1990. FMRF-amide in the corn earworm Heliothis zea: Immunoreactivity in the midgut and cerebral nervous system. Insect Neurochemistry and Neurophysiology. Humana Press, N.J., 1989, pp. 401-404. Crim, J.W., A.C. Jenkins, M.R. Brown, and A.O. Lea. 1990. Gut motility of Heliothis zea controlled by FMRF-amide-related peptides. Molecular Insect Science. Plenum Press, N.Y., p. 294. Jenkins, A.C., M.R. Brown, and J.W. Crim. 1989. FMRF-amide immunoreactivity and the midgut of the corn earworm Heliothis zea. J. Exp. Zool. 252:71-78. Matsumoto, S., M.R. Brown, J.W. Crim, S.R. Vigna, and A.O. Lea. 1989. Isolation and primary structure of neuropeptides from the mosquito, Aedes aegypti, immunoreactive to FMRF-amide antiserum. Insect Biochem. 19:277-283.
