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. 1996 Oct 29;93(22):12621–12625. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.22.12621

Induction of pheromone production in a moth by topical application of a pseudopeptide mimic of a pheromonotropic neuropeptide.

R L Abernathy 1, P E Teal 1, J A Meredith 1, R J Nachman 1
PMCID: PMC38042  PMID: 8901632

Abstract

An amphiphilic analog of Locusta myotropin II (Lom-MT-II), Glu-Gly-Asp-Phe-Thr-Pro-Arg-Leu-amide, was synthesized by addition of 6-phenylhexanoic acid (6-Pha) linked through alanine to the amino terminus. This pseudopeptide, [6-Pha-Ala0]Lom-MT-II, was found to have pheromonotropic activity equivalent to pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide when injected into females of Heliothis virescens. Topical application of [6-Pha-Ala0]Lom-MT-II or Helicoverpa zea-pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN), dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide, to the descaled abdomen of females induced production of pheromone, although more Hez-PBAN than [6-Pha-Ala0]Lom-MT-II was required to obtain significant production of pheromone. Application of [6-Pha-Ala0]Lom-MT-II, dissolved in water, to the abdomen induced production of pheromone, but neither Hez-PBAN nor Lom-MT-II dissolved in water stimulated production of significant amounts of pheromone. Dose- and time-response studies indicated that application of the amphiphilic mimetic in water induced pheromone production in as little as 15 min after application and that the effects were maintained for prolonged periods. These findings show that amphiphilic pseudopeptide mimics of insect neuropeptides will penetrate the insect cuticle when applied topically in water and induce an endogenous response.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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