Abstracts of papers presented at the United States/Israel bard workshop on new targets for insect management in crop protection (original) (raw)

Insect Neuropeptides and Their Receptors

Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1997

Diversification of messenger and receptor molecules is the result of evolution; howeve~the principles of intercellular signaling mechanisms are very similar in all metazoans. Recent discoveries of insect peptides provide new leads for applications in medicine and agriculture.

FEATURES OF THE INSECTS NEUROPEPTIDES BIOSYNTHESIS

Ecobiotech, 2018

Ильясов Р.А., Хан Г.Ю., Сонг Д.Х., Лим С.Х., Квон Х.В. Особенности биосинтеза нейропептидов насекомых. Экобиотех, 2018, Т. 1, № 1, С. 52-62. DOI: 10.31163/2618-964X-2018-1-1-52-61. Ilyasov R.A., Han G.Y., Song J.H., Lim S.H., Kwon H.W. Features of the insects neuropeptides biosynthesis. Ecobiotech, 2018, V. 1, No. 1, P. 52-62. DOI: 10.31163/2618-964X-2018-1-1-52-61. Аннотация В статье рассмотрены современные данные о классификации, строении, функциях и распространении нейропептидов у насекомых. Также в статье описываются особенности биосинтеза, процессинга и экспрессии нейропептидов насекомых. Вся доступная современная информация о нейропептидах насекомых и их GPCR (G protein– coupled receptors) рецепторах депонирована в специализированную базу данных нейропептидов насекомых DINeR (Database for Insect Neuropeptide Research). Возможно, что достижения в исследованиях нейропептидов могут быть использованы для создания высокоактивных и экологически безопасных лекарств для полезных насекомых и средств борьбы с насекомыми- вредителями и переносчиками болезней. Abstract In this paper, current data on the classification, structure, functions, and distribution of neuropeptides in insects have reviewed. Also, the article describes the features of biosynthesis, processing and expression of insect neuropeptides. All available up-to-date information on insect neuropeptides and their G protein–coupled receptors (GPCR) deposited into the specialized database of insect neuropeptides DINeR (Database for Insect Neuropeptide Research). Perhaps the advances in of neuropeptide researches can be used to create highly active and ecologically safe drugs for beneficial insects and means of struggle against pest and disease vectors.

More than two decades of research on insect neuropeptide GPCRs: an overview

Frontiers in endocrinology, 2012

This review focuses on the state of the art on neuropeptide receptors in insects. Most of these receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and are involved in the regulation of virtually all physiological processes during an insect's life. More than 20 years ago a milestone in invertebrate endocrinology was achieved with the characterization of the first insect neuropeptide receptor, i.e., the Drosophila tachykinin-like receptor. However, it took until the release of the Drosophila genome in 2000 that research on neuropeptide receptors boosted. In the last decade a plethora of genomic information of other insect species also became available, leading to a better insight in the functions and evolution of the neuropeptide signaling systems and their intracellular pathways. It became clear that some of these systems are conserved among all insect species, indicating that they fulfill crucial roles in their physiological processes. Meanwhile, other signaling systems seem to b...

Active conformation of an insect neuropeptide family

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1991

To understand the structural and chemical basis for insect neuropeptide activity, we have designed, synthesized, and determined the conformation of a biologically active cyclic analog of the pyrokinins, an insect neuropeptide family that mediates myotropic (visceral muscle contractile) activity. Members of this insect neuropeptide family share the common C-terminal pentapeptide sequence Phe-Xaa-Pro-Arg-Leu-NH2 (Xaa = Ser, Thr, or Val). Circular dichroic, nuclear magnetic resonance, and molecular dynamics analyses of the conformationally restricted cyclic pyrokinin analog cydo(-Asn-Thr-Ser-Phe-Thr-Pro-Arg-Leu-) indicated the presence of a

Neuropeptides in interneurons of the insect brain

Cell and Tissue Research, 2006

A large number of neuropeptides has been identified in the brain of insects. At least 35 neuropeptide precursor genes have been characterized in Drosophila melanogaster, some of which encode multiple peptides. Additional neuropeptides have been found in other insect species. With a few notable exceptions, most of the neuropeptides have been demonstrated in brain interneurons of various types. The products of each neuropeptide precursor seem to be co-expressed, and each precursor displays a unique neuronal distribution pattern. Commonly, each type of neuropeptide is localized to a relatively small number of neurons. We describe the distribution of neuropeptides in brain interneurons of a few well-studied insect species. Emphasis has been placed upon interneurons innervating specific brain areas, such as the optic lobes, accessory medulla, antennal lobes, central body, and mushroom bodies. The functional roles of some neuropeptides and their receptors have been investigated in D. melanogaster by molecular genetics techniques. In addition, behavioral and electrophysiological assays have addressed neuropeptide functions in the cockroach Leucophaea maderae. Thus, the involvement of brain neuropeptides in circadian clock function, olfactory processing, various aspects of feeding behavior, and learning and memory are highlighted in this review. Studies so far indicate that neuropeptides can play a multitude of functional roles in the brain and that even single neuropeptides are likely to be multifunctional. Keywords Insect brain. Neuropeptide. G-protein-coupled receptor. Drosophila melanogaster. Schistocerca gregaria. Leucophaea maderae (Insecta) The original research in the authors' laboratories was supported by DFG grants HO 950/14 and 950/16 (U.H.) and Swedish Research Council grant VR 621-2004-3715 (D.R.N).

Advances in the application of neuropeptides in insect control

Crop Protection, 2000

The development of a new approach for the generation of a novel type of putative insect control agents based on backbone cyclic peptidomimetic antagonists of insect-neuropeptides is reported. The approach, termed the backbone cyclic neuropeptide based on antagonist (BBC-NBA) was applied to the insect pyrokinin/pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) family as a model, and led to the discovery of a potent linear lead antagonist and several highly potent, metabolically stable BBC peptidomimetic antagonists, devoid of agonistic activity, which inhibited in vivo PBAN-mediated activities in moths.

The Biology of the Prothoracicotropic Hormone Peptidergic Neurons in an Insect

Integrative and Comparative Biology, 1993

SYNOPSIS. The prothoracicotropic hormone and the cerebral peptidergic neurons that produce it have traditionally been thought to have the singular function of acting as a primary effector of insect postembryonic development. Recent investigations of this neuroendocrine axis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, are leading to a new view that these peptidergic neurons and their peptide phenotypes may be multifunctional. They may act in different ways depending upon the animal's developmental stage and site of phenotype release. The possibility for this functional diversity of the prothoracicotropic hormone is possibly even greater due to multiple neuronal sites of peptide expression within the central nervous system. Similarly, the L-NSC III may have more functions due to the expression of multiple peptide phenotypes. The data, thus far, have not enabled us to identify additional physiological roles for the peptide, but they have provided insight into the experimental approaches that might be effective in resolving these functions.

Insect Neuropeptides and their Potential Application for Pest Control

Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 2006

Our current knowledge regarding primary structure, synthesis, release, receptor-binding, structureactivity relationship and mode of action of insect neuropeptides has increased dramatically during the past decade. Thanks to the development of insect neuroendocrinology-in parallel to this-an even increasing need for modern, yet environmentally sound strategies of plant protection has arisen, becoming a driving force for insect physiologists to concentrate their efforts to combat pests more efficiently. The ultimate aim of these researchers is, however, not the total eradication of harmful insects, but rather, selective targeting by using species-or groupspecific control strategies which can only be achieved by taking note of recent results in insect physiology, endocrinology, biochemistry and ecology. The rationale behind this approach is, that, since neuropeptides regulate key biological processes, these "special agents" or their synthetic analogues, mimetics, agonists or antagonists may be effective tools in combating insect pests in an environmentally more sound manner than with conventional pesticides. In this review, taking into account possible practical aspects, some representative insect neuropeptides/groups have been selected, which may be important due to their characteristic structure and/or physiological action, and could be used for the design of novel, safe and selective compounds to control pests.

Peptidergic control of food intake and digestion in insects1

Canadian Journal of Zoology

Like all heterotrophic organisms, insects require a strict control of food intake and efficient digestion of food into nutrients to maintain homeostasis and to fulfill physiological tasks. Feeding and digestion are steered by both external and internal signals that are transduced by a multitude of regulatory factors, delivered either by neurons innervating the gut or mouthparts, or by midgut endocrine cells. The present review gives an overview of peptide regulators known to control feeding and digestion in insects. We describe the discovery and functional role in these processes for insect allatoregulatory peptides, diuretic hormones, FMRFamide-related peptides, (short) neuropeptide F, proctolin, saliva production stimulating peptides, kinins, and tachykinins. These peptides control either gut myoactivity, food intake, and (or) release of digestive enzymes. Some peptides exert their action at multiple levels, possibly having a biological function that depends on their site of deliv...