Using　a　novel　technique　that　we　have　developed　for　cloning　of　amphibian　skin　secretion　peptide　cDNAs　from　lyophilized　samples,　we　report　here　that　maximakinin　(DLPKINRKGP-bradykinin)　is　encoded　by　two　different　cDNAs,　named　BMK-1　and　BMK-2,　containing　either　four　tandem　repeat　sequences　or　a　single　copy.　The　open　reading　frames　of　both　precursor　cDNAs　were　found　to　be　152　and　116　amino　acid　residues,　respectively.　These　data　provide　evidence　that　the　structural　diversity　of　peptides　in　amphibian　skin　secretions　arising　from　molecular　evolutionary　events,　can　be　mediated　by　parallel　diversity　in　encoding　mRNAs　that　in　itself　may　reflect　serial　gene　duplications.　©　2003　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.