Pyrokinin/PBAN radio-receptor assay: development and application for the characterization of a putative receptor from the pheromone gland of Heliothis peltigera

A radio-receptor assay (RRA) for the insect pyrokinin/PBAN family has been developed. The development involved examination of the ligand (H-3-tyrosyl- PBAN28-33NH(2))-receptor interaction under various incubation conditions an d variations on sex pheromone gland membrane preparation. Application of th e RRA for a partial characterization of the putative pyrokinin/PBAN recepto r in the pheromone gland of H. peltigera revealed age-dependence of its exp ression. Pharmacological characterization revealed a high correlation betwe en the binding-affinity to the receptor of various PBAN-derived peptides an d their in vivo pheromonotropic bioactivity, and shed light on the interact ion of backbone cyclic and linear ([Arg(27),D-Phe(30)]PBAN28-33NH(2)) PBAN antagonists with the receptor. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights re served.