title: Development of amphiphylic mimics of insect neuropeptides for pest control.
abstract: Insect neuropeptides regulate virtually all aspects of insect life and are excellent candidates for development of new methods for pest control. However, they do not penetrate insect cuticle and are degraded by enzymes both in the digestive system and hemolymph. We have designed mimics of model neuropeptides by attachment of various lipidic moieties to the amino terminus of the bioactive core of the neuropeptides. These mimics have amphiphylic characteristics that allowed them to penetrate the hydrophobic insect cuticle. The mimics also induced prolonged physiological responses (up to 20 hours) and were resistant to peptidase attack. This knowledge has been used to develop a novel, species-specific approach to insect control.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA, ARS, Gainesville, Florida 32604, USA. pteal@gainesville.usda ufl.edu
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Teal
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nachman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015195:Drug Design; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007313:Insecta; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007301:Insect Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides