title: A brominated-fluorene insect neuropeptide analog exhibits pyrokinin/PBAN-specific toxicity for adult females of the tobacco budworm moth.
abstract: An analog of the insect pyrokinin/PBAN class of neuropeptides, which features a 2-amino7-bromofluorene attached to the carboxy-terminal bioactive core of the insect pyrokinin/PBAN class of neuropeptides (Phe-Thr-Pro-Arg-Leu-NH(2)), via a succinnic acid linker, was tested in adult H. virescens moths. This analog was found to induce pheromone production when injected into or applied topically to moths. Topical application of as much as 1 nmol of the analog to moths induced production of significant amounts of pheromone for only 1-2 h, whereas injection of 500 pmol induced pheromone production for up to 20 h. All insects died within 24 h after injection of 500 pmol of the analog. Mortality studies indicated that the LD(50) for the analog was 0.7 pmol when injected. A non-pyrokinin/PBAN peptide analog formed by attachment of 2-amino-7-bromofluorene to Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala-Ala-NH(2) (via the succinnic acid linker) did not induce mortality when injected at 1 nmol. Similarly no mortality was found when up to 2 nmol of an analog containing a non-brominated fluorene ring, formed by attachment of 9-fluoreneacetic acid to Phe-Thr-Pro-Arg-Leu-NH(2,) was injected into moths. The data indicated that both the bromine and active core of the pyrokinin neuropeptides (Phe-Thr-Pro-Arg-Leu-NH(2)) were critical for a specific toxic action and suggested that the brominated analog poisoned the moths by interacting with pyrokinin receptors.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS, 1700 SW 23rd Dr., Gainesville, FL 32604, USA. pteal@gainesville.usda.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Peter E A
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Teal
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nachman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017605:Bromine Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009036:Moths / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D017605:Bromine Compounds; D007301:Insect Hormones; D007306:Insecticides; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012724:Sex Attractants; C079709:pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, Helicoverpa zea