| FEA1 | |
| Project ID |  FEA1 [Protein] |
| Project Theme | Structural and functional analyses of signaling proteins for insect control |
| Project Theme (short) | Signaling proteins for insect control |
| Principal Investigator | Koji Nagata |
| Affiliation | Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo |
| Backgrounds | - Sex pheromones secreted from insect species indicate the availability of the female for breeding - Regulation of sex pheromone biosynthesis of pest insects could lead to the insect control |
| Highlights | - Structures and functions of hormone PBAN of female moths, which triggers the production of sex pheromones, have been revealed - Using PBAN receptor PBANR, assay systems to screen PBAN mimics have been established - Structural analyses of the membrane protein PBANR are in progress |
| Outline | Pesticide use raises a number of environmental concerns and health effects. One possible solution to this issue is judicious usage of sex pheromones of insects. Sex pheromones secreted from pest insect species can be used to trap pests and to disrupt mating. Since they are specifically effective among the same species, they exhibit no effects or toxicity to other species. Moths are a major agricultural pest in many parts of the world. During the mating period, female moths secrete hormone PBAN. The binding of PBAN with its receptor PBANR on cell membranes in pheromone glands activates the production of sex pheromones. We will analyze the structures of PBAN, PBANR and the enzymes pgdesat1 and pgFAR involved in pheromone production. PBAN mimics as pesticides could lead to the inhibition of pheromone production. We will also screen compounds that inhibit the activities of the enzymes. |
| Review | Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. |
| CSML File | FEA1.csml |