Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are insecticides that disrupt the normal development of target insects by inducing symptoms such as premature molting or supernumerary larval stages. IGRs are categorized into three types based on their mode of action. One of the them is classified as juvenile hormone agonists (JHAs). Recently, we developed a yeast-two hybrid system that can identify potential juvenile hormone antagonist (JHAN) candidates using Aedes aegypti juvenile hormone receptor complex proteins, known as MET and FISC. In order to identify novel JHAN compounds, approximately 8,700 basic chemical compounds were screened using the yeast-two hybrid system. Among them, 35 compounds were first selected based on consistency of JHAN　activity, and their insecticidal activities were investigated against A. aegypti larvae. These compounds showed insecticidal activities about 1.7~3 times higher than that of pyriproxifen, which is a well known JHA insecticide. These results suggested that these JHANs can be used as effective JHAN insecticides.

• Seok-Hee Lee(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Kyu Baik Ha(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Ying Fang(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Jong Hoon Kim(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Dong Hwan Park(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Jae Young Choi(Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University)
• Woo Jin Kim(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Yeon Ho Je(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)