Advances in the application of neuropeptides in insect control

The development of a new approach for the generation of a novel type of put ative insect control agents based on backbone cyclic peptidomimetic antagon ists of insect-neuropeptides is reported. The approach, termed the backbone cyclic neuropeptide based on antagonist (BBC-NBA) was applied to the insec t pyrokinin/pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) family as a model, and led to the discovery of a potent linear lead antagonist and s everal highly potent, metabolically stable BBC peptidomimetic antagonists, devoid of agonistic activity, which inhibited in vivo PBAN-mediated activit ies in moths. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.