Insect growth regulators and insect control: a critical appraisal.

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) of the juvenile hormone type alter physiological processes essential to insect development and appear to act specifically on insects. Three natural juvenile hormones have been found in insects but not in other organisms. Future use of antagonists or inhibitors of hormone synthesis may be technically possible as an advantageous extension of pest control by IGRs. A documented survey of the properties, metabolism, toxicology, and uses of the most commercially advanced chemical, methoprene, shows it to be environmentally acceptable and toxicologically innocuous. Derivation of its current use patterns is discussed and limitations on these are noted. Residue levels and their measurement in the ppb region have allowed exemption from the requirement of tolerances in the EPA registered use of methoprene for mosquito control. Tolerances for foods accompany its fully approved use for control of manure breeding flies through a cattle feed supplement. The human health effects of using this chemical appear to be purely beneficial, but further advances through new IGR chemicals appear unlikely without major changes in regulatory and legislative policy.

A survey of the chromatographic analysis of natural insect juvenile hormones and the insect growth regulator, altosid.

A brief survey of gas and liquid chromatographic methods for analysis, purification and quantitation of natural insect juvenile hormones and one commercially used analoh, altosid (methoprene) insect growth regulator, includes references to the most recent literature.

Biosynthesis of the Juvenile Hormones of Manduca sexta: Labeling Pattern from Mevalonate, Propionate, and Acetate.

Using organ culture, high-resolution liquid chromatography, and microchemical techniques, we demonstrated the efficient incorporation in vitro of several radiolabeled precursors into the two juvenile hormones of Manduca sexta. JH II, a homosesquiterpene hormone, reported from M. sexta as well as several other insects, incorporates radiolabel from acetate, mevalonate, and propionate. JH III, a sesquiterpene hormone recently reported as a natural product of M. sexta, incorporates label from acetate and mevalonate, but not from propionate. Based on the position of the labeled atoms in the precursors and upon the position of incorporation obtained from label-distribution data, a scheme for juvenile hormone biosynthesis is advanced.

Isolation, Structure, and Absolute Configuration of a New Natural Insect Juvenile Hormone from Manduca sexta.

Two juvenile hormones are isolated from organ cultures of corpora allata of the tobacco hornworm moth, Manduca sexta Johannson, and are purified by high-resolution liquid chromatography. These are identified as methyl (2E, 6E)-(10R)-10,11-epoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6-dodecadienoate, a new natural hormone, and methyl (2E,6E) - (10R,11S) - 10,11 - epoxy - 3,7,11 - trimethyl-2,6-tridecadienoate. [(14)C]Methionine is incorporated only into their methoxycarbonyl group. Details of the in vitro techniques and the chemical proof of structures are presented. The significance of the occurrence of a new juvenile hormone and the new techniques used for production, isolation, and identification are discussed.

Binding proteins for an ecdysone metabolite in the crustacean hepatopancreas.

When crustacean hepatopancreas is incubated in the presence of alpha-(3)H]ecdysone of high specific activity and is then homogenized and centrifuged, a peak of protein-radioactivity is recovered after gel filtration of the 105,000 x g supernatant. Analysis of this peak by sucrose gradient centrifugation revealed the presence of two complexes of protein and labeled material ( approximately 11.5 S and 6.35 S). The same results were obtained in vivo. On standing at low ionic strength, the lighter component disappeared, suggesting that the heavier component is an aggregate of the lighter one. Chemical analysis of radioactive material in the complex revealed that it is not alpha- or beta-ecdysone nor any previously described metabolite of the ecdysones. This new metabolite of alpha-ecdysone is found mainly in the incubated hepatopancreas. Partial structures consistent with the analytical data are inferred for this metabolite. It is suggested that the metabolite may be active in the action of molting hormone.

Aspects of research on insect growth hormones.

Current research on insect growth hormones includes studies on the binding of hormones to receptor molecules, probably proteins. Evidence has been obtained that this process does in fact occur and may be the means whereby the hormones "recognize" target tissues. Other studies on the possibility of a feedback effect when growth hormones are used for insect control suggest that there is a positive feedback relationship between the hormone titre and the activity of prothoracic glands and corpora allata, but the details are not yet clear. Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate has an important role as "second messenger" in vertebrate endocrinology and may also be important in insects. Studies have shown that adenyl cyclase is present in pupal epidermis and the preliminary results have shown that it can be stimulated by a steroid hormone.

A short stereoselective synthesis of cecropia juvenile hormone. Experimental details.

Experimental details are reported for a previously described synthesis of cecropia juvenile hormone.

A short stereoselective synthesis of cecropia juvenile hormone.

A very short synthesis of the racemic cecropia hormone has been realized, utilizing a Claisen reaction. Methyl 6-hydroxy-3-methyl-7-methylene-2-trans-nonenoate, on treatment with the dimethyl ketal of 3-chloro-3-methyl-2-pentanone and a catalytic amount of 2,4-dinitrophenol, is transformed directly into methyl 11-chloro-3,11-dimethyl-7-ethyl-10-oxo-2-trans, 6-trans-tridecadienoate. Selective reduction gives a mixture of diastereoisomeric chlorohydrins separable by chromatography. The predominant threo-chlorohydrin is transformed into the juvenile hormone.