United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Ronald J Nachman

Peter E A Teal

Christopher S Garside

Stephen S Tobe

Grant Mark Holman

Peter E Teal

Novel pseudopeptide analogs of the insect allatostatin neuropeptide family which possess biological activity mimicking that of the naturally occurring neuropeptides are disclosed. By addition of a hydrophobic moiety to an active portion of the allatostatin peptides, analogs are produced which exhibit an overall amphiphilic nature and which are capable of penetrating the insect cuticle while still retaining biological activity. Furthermore, by substituting sterically hindered amino acids or aromatic acids for any or all of the first, third or fifth amino acid residues of the allatostatin C-terminal pentapeptide, analogs may be produced which are resistant to degradation by insect peptidases while still retaining biological activity. The analogs may be used for insect control by disrupting critical reproductive and/or developmental processes normally regulated by allatostatins in insects.

Mimetic insect allatostatin analogs for insect control

Novel pseudopeptide analogs of the insect allatostain neuropeptide family which possess biological activity mimicking that of the naturally ocurring neuropepetides are disclosed. By addition of a hydrophobic moiety to an active portion of the allatostatin peptides, analogs are produced which exhibit an overall amphipilic nature and which are capable of penetrating the insect cuticle while still retaining biological activity. Furthermore, by substituting sterically hindered amino acids or aromatic acids for any or all of the first, third or fifth amino acids residues of the allatostatin C-terminal pentapeptide, analogs may be produced which are resistant to degradation by insect peptidases while still retaining biological activity. The analogs may be used for insect control by disrupting critical reproductive and/or developmental processes normally regulated by allatostatins in insects.

Novel pseudopeptide analogs of the insect pyrokinin neuropeptide family which possess biological activity mimicking that of the naturally occurring neuropeptides are disclosed. By addition of a hydrophobic moiety to an active portion of the pyrokinin peptides, analogs are produced which exhibit an overall amphiphilic nature and which are capable of penetrating the insect cuticle while still retaining biological activity. The analogs may be used for insect control by disrupting the reproductive, developmental, and/or digestive processes normally regulated by pryrokinins in insects.

Mimetic insect pyrokinin analogs for insect control

Novel pseudopeptide analogs of the insect kinin neuropeptide family which possess biological activity mimicking that of the naturally occurring neuropeptides are disclosed. By substituting a sterically hindered amino acid which is compatible with a turn conformation, for the Xaa.sup.2 amino acid of the insect kinin C-terminal pentapeptide (i.e. Ser, Pro, or Ala), analogs are produced which exhibit resistance to degradation by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) while still retaining biological activity. The analogs may be used for insect control by disrupting the diuretic and/or myotropic activity in insects.

Growing community of inventors

Willis, TX, United States of America

Ronald J Nachman