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Significance Synthetic mimics of the insect juvenile hormone (JH) exemplify biorational pesticides. Unique peptidic juvenoids with target-species specific effects, were discovered in the early 1970s. However, these promising compounds were… Click to show full abstract
Significance Synthetic mimics of the insect juvenile hormone (JH) exemplify biorational pesticides. Unique peptidic juvenoids with target-species specific effects, were discovered in the early 1970s. However, these promising compounds were abandoned with their mode of action never addressed. Our study shows that peptidic juvenoids act through the canonical JH receptor signaling to affect development and reproduction of the target insect. Our newly synthesized peptidic derivatives outperform established JH mimics by two orders of magnitude while retaining their target species selectivity. We further propose an advanced structural model for interaction of these highly potent agonists with the JH receptor. These results unveil the potential of peptidic juvenoids as agents for precisely targeted and sustainable insect control.
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year Published: 2022
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