OKB, a novel family of brain-gut neuropeptides from insects

► We describe orcokinin B (OKB), a novel family of mature neuropeptides in arthropods. ► OKB are expressed from the same gene that the previously described orcokinin A (OKA). ► In insects, alternative splicing give rise to OKA and OKB transcripts. ► In .R. prolixus, OKB are expressed in central nervous system and anterior midgut. ► In R. prolixus, OKA are expressed only in central nervous system.