During the larval development process of insects, juvenile hormone (JH) is essential for regulating various aspects of larval life, including growth, reproduction, and behavior, throughout their larval stage. The larval stage of Spodoptera frugiperda, when it consumes plant-derived metabolites, develops into pupae, but these pupae are unable to molt successfully. In this way, plant-derived metabolites contain or produce inhibitors of juvenile hormone, thereby disrupting the development of insect larvae and making them vulnerable to harm. Therefore, in this study, we established an in vitro screening system using yeast cells transformed with the Met-SRC juvenile hormone receptor of S. frugiperda. Through this system, we were able to identify juvenile hormone disruptors from plant-derived metabolites and confirm their developmental inhibitory effects on the larvae of S. frugiperda.

In crustaceans, molting is regulated by interactions between ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone (JH) signaling pathway-related genes. Unlike the ecdysteroid signaling pathway, little information on the role of JH signaling pathway-related genes in molting is available in zooplanktonic crustaceans. In this study, three genes (juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase (JHAMT ), methoprene-tolerant (Met ), and juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH )) which are involved in the synthesis, receptor-binding, and degradation of JH were identified using sequence and phylogenetic analysis in the brackish water flea, Diaphanosoma celebensis. Transcriptional changes in these genes during the molting cycle in D. celebensis were analyzed. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis revealed that these putative proteins may be functionally conserved along with those of insects and other crustaceans. In addition, the expression of the three genes was correlated with the molting cycle of D. celebensis, indicating that these genes may be involved in the synthesis and degradation of JH, resulting in normal molting. This study will provide information for a better understanding of the role of JH signaling pathwayrelated genes during the molting process in Cladocera.

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.

Streptomyces has been reported to produce various secondary metabolites which have the potential to become environmentally safe insecticides. In this study, 1,274 streptomyces culture filtrates were screened for their JHAN activity in order to identify novel insecticidal compounds. 34 isolates with high levels of JHAN activity were selected, and their insecticidal activities were tested against Plutella xylostella larvae. Among them, IMBL-263 which was revealed to be Streptomyces anulatus by 16s rRNA sequencing showed the highest insecticidal activity. Also, systemic activities of secondary metabolites extracted from the S. anulatus on plant, Brassica napus, were investigated. These results suggested that secondary metabolites from the S. anulatus might be useful for development of novel environmentally benign insecticides.

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are insecticides that disrupt the normal development of target insects. Among the IGR insecticides, juvenile hormone (JH)-related IGRs are of particular interest because they stimulate or interfere with the formation of JH receptor complex. In the precious studies, novel JH-related IGRs with JH agonist (JHA) and antagonist (JHAN) activity were identified by using yeast two-hybrid system transformed with the Aedes aegypti JH receptor complex. In this study, the transcriptomic responses of Aedes albopictus were investigated upon JHA and JHAN, respectively. These results will provide important information about understanding of impact of JH-related IGRs in transcription level.

Actinobacteria have been known to produce variety of bioactive metabolites that include antibiotics and plant growthfactor. Also, Insecticidal compounds such as avermectin and tetranectin have been reported from actinobacteria. In thisstudy, to identify novel insect growth regulator (IGR)-based insecticidal compounds, 1,283 actinobacteria isolates weretested for their juvenile hormone antagonist (JHAN) activity using the yeast-two hybrid β-galactosidase assay. Amongthem, 25 isolates showed high level of JHAN activity and insecticidal activity against 3rd larvae of diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella. These results suggested that actinobacteria could be unparalleled source of novel IGR-based compounds.

Recently, it has been reported that plants produce variety of phytochemicals against insect pests as a part of their defencemechanism. In this study, to identify novel compounds that disrupt juvenile hormone (JH) receptor complex, plant essentialoil compounds were tested using in vitro yeast two-hybrid system transformed with the Aedes aegypti JH receptor complex.Among the plant essential oil compounds, farnesol interfered with pyriproxyfen-mediated binding of A. aegypti Met-FISC.In contrast, farnesyl acetate induced the binding of A. aegypti Met-FISC. Also, both compounds caused retardation ofovarian development and change of transcription level in female A. albopictus. These results could provide insights onthe plant-insect coevolution and may be useful for the development of insect specific and safe pesticides.

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.