Evaluation of a PK/PBAN analog with an (E)-alkene, trans-Pro isostere identifies the Pro orientation for activity in four diverse PK/PBAN bioassays.
The pyrokinin/pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PK/PBAN) family plays a multifunctional role in an array of important physiological processes in a variety of insects. An active core analog containing an (E)-alkene, trans-Pro isosteric component was evaluated in four disparate PK/PBAN bioassays in four different insect species. These bioassays include pheromone biosynthesis in the moth Heliothis peltigera, melanization in the larval Spodoptera littoralis, pupariation acceleration in the larval fly Neobellieria bullata, and hindgut contraction in the cockroach Leucophaea maderae. The conformationally constrained analog demonstrated activity equivalent to parent PK/PBAN peptides of equal length in all four PK/PBAN bioassays, and matched and/or approached the activity of peptides of natural length in three of them. In the melanization bioassay, the constrained analog exceeded the efficacy (maximal response) of the natural PBAN1-33 by a factor of 2 (at 1nmol). The results provide strong evidence for the orientation of Pro and the core conformation adopted by PK/PBAN neuropeptides during interaction with receptors associated with a range of disparate PK/PBAN bioassays. The work further identifies a scaffold with which to design mimetic PK/PBAN analogs as potential leads in the development of environmentally favorable pest management agents capable of disrupting PK/PBAN-regulated systems.
Areawide Pest Management Research, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, USDA, 2881 F/B Road, College Station, TX 77845, USA. nachman@tamu.edu
Ronald J
RJ
Nachman
Xiaodong J
XJ
Wang
Felicia A
FA
Etzkorn
Orna Ben
OB
Aziz
Michael
M
Davidovitch
Krzysztof
K
Kaczmarek
Janusz
J
Zabrocki
Allison
A
Strey
Nan
N
Pryor
Miriam
M
Altstein
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004175:Diptera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D008543:Melanins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D010675:Pheromones; C079229:pyrokinin