Mass spectrometric elucidation of the neuropeptidome of a crustacean neuroendocrine organ

► The first comprehensive report on discovery of neuropeptides in the pericardial organ of blue crab Callinectes sapidus. ► 130 peptides from 11 families including 44 novel ones were discovered and sequenced. ► A combination of multifaceted mass spectrometry (MS) approach and chemical derivatization was employed for peptidomic analysis. ► Our results lay the groundwork for future neuropeptide physiology studies in C. sapidus and other crustaceans.