곤충생장조절제(IGR)은 대상 해충에 대한 특이성이 높고 환경에 대한 독성이 상대적으로 낮다는 장점으로 유기합성 살충제를 효과적으로 대체할 수 있는 유망한 수단으로 여겨진다. 현재 시판되는 곤충생장조절제는 작용 기작에 따라 유충호르몬 작용제(JHA), 탈피호르몬 작용제 (EA) 및 키틴 합성 저해제(CSI)의 세 가지로 구분된다. 최근 들어, 이집트숲모기의 Met과 FISC/CYC 유전자를 yeast two-hybrid system에 도 입하여 유충호르몬에 의해 매개되는 Met과 FISC/CYC의 결합을 in vitro에서 구현하였으며, yeast two-hybrid β-galactosidase assay를 통하 여 식물과 미생물 및 화합물 library로부터 다양한 유충호르몬 길항제(JHAN)가 분리되고 있다. 유충호르몬은 곤충의 발달, 생식, 휴면 등을 포함 한 다양한 생리 작용을 조절하기 때문에, 유충호르몬 길항제는 대상 해충의 내분비 신호 전달을 방해하여 비정상적인 발달 및 유충 단계에서의 치 사를 초래하며, 이는 유충호르몬 길항제가 넓은 기주 범위를 가진 살충제 개발에 효과적으로 이용될 수 있다는 것을 시사하였다. 따라서 본 논문 에서는 유충호르몬 길항제의 작용점인 Met에 의해 매개되는 유충호르몬의 신호 전달 체계와 친환경 살충제로서의 유충호르몬 길항제의 전망에 대해 알아보고자 하였다.

최근 이상기후로 인한 총채벌레 발생 증가와 Neonicotinoids계, Pyrethroids계, Spinosyns계, Avermectins계 약제의 과다 살포, 중복 살포로 인한 저항성 발달로 총채벌레 방제가 어려운 상황이다. 본 연구에서는 총채벌레의 약제저항성 관리 및 효율적인 방제전략을 세우기 위한 기초 연구로 곤충성장저해제(insect growth regulator, IGR)의 적용 가능성을 검토하였다. 꽃노랑총채벌레 알, 1령 약충, 2령 약충, 성충으로 나누어 시험 약제를 처리하고, 조사는 약충의 경우 168시간까지 생충수, 알과 성충은 144시간까지 생충수와 부화 약충수를 조사하였다. 조사결과 클로르플루아주론 유제는 1령 약충, 2령 약충에 대하여 접종 168시간 후 각각 100%, 80%의 방제효과를 나타내었다. 또한 시험약제를 성충에 처리 시 산란에 대한 영향도 확인할 수 있었다. 본 연구결과를 통해 곤충성장저해제의 꽃노랑총채벌레 령기별 적용 가능성을 확인할 수 있었으며, 총채벌레 적용약제의 계통을 다양화하여 저항성 관리에도 도움이 될 수 있다고 판단된다.

Plant essential oils have been reported to show repellent, insecticidal and growth-reducing effect on many insect herbivores. Recently, it has been reported that plants synthesize secondary metabolites regulating insect juvenile hormone (JH) receptor complex as a part of their defense mechanisms. We tested 180 plant essential oil compounds using a yeast two-hybrid system transformed with the Aedes aegypti JH receptor as a reporter system. Among them, we identified 17 compounds that showing high JH agonist (JHA) or antagonist (JHAN) activities. They were grouped into 4 groups by their structural similarity and their insecticidal activity was tested against larvae of Aedes albopictus, Plutella xylostella, Plodia interpunctella and Laodelphax striatellus. These results could provide insights on the plant-insect coevolution and may be useful for the development of insect specific and safe pesticides.

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are attractive pest control agents due to their high target specificity and relative safety to the environment. Recently, plants have been shown to synthesize IGRs that affect the insect juvenile hormone (JH) as a part of their defense mechanisms. We identified several JH agonists (JHAs) and antagonists (JHANs) from plant essential oil compounds using a yeast two-hybrid system transformed with the Aedes aegypti JH receptor as a reporter system. They showed high mosquitocidal activities with relatively low LC50 values and caused retardation of ovarian development in female mosquitoes. While the JHAs increased the expression of JH-induced gene, the JHANs caused reduction in the expression of the same gene. The compounds identified in this study could provide insights on the plant-insect interactions and may be useful for the development of novel IGR insecticides.

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.

Investigation of the environmental impact of widespread pesticide use has revealed a virtue/vice relationship. Although many pesticides perform their function and disappear without harm to the environment, others persist beyond their useful purpose and cause direct of indirect hazard to man, domestic animals and wildlife. Concurrently, many pests have rapidly adjusted to chemical control practices through changes in behavior that avoid exposure to pesticides of throuth genetic selection for populations resistant to the toxicants. The prospect of losing control over insect herbivores and desease vectors and returning to the days of global hunger and disease is unthinkable. Fortunately, from basic studies of insect and plant biology many opportunities for the development of safe, selective and environmentally pacific strategies for insect pest management are being realized.