Inhibition of Farnesoic Acid Methyl transferase by Sinefungin |
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| Authors: | Hans-Jörg Ferenz Martin G Peter Dieter Berg |
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| Institution: | 1. Fachbereich Biologie, Universit?t Oldenburg, Postfach 2503, D-2900 Oldenburg, F.R.G.;2. Institut fur Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universitat Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str. 1, D-5300 Bonn, F.R.G.;3. Bayer AG, Sektor Landwirtschaft, Chemische Forschung, Pflanzenschutzzentrum Monheim, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50, D-5090 Leverkusen, Bayerwerk, F.R.G. |
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| Abstract: | Sinefungin inhibited the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent farnesoic acid methyltransferase in a cell-free system containing a homogenate of corpora allata from female locusts, Locusta migratoria. The enzyme catalyzed the penultimate step of juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the insects. Culturing corpora allata in the presence of sinefungin greatly suppressed juvenile hormone production. The following in vivo effects were visible after injection of the inhibitor: increase in mortality and reduction of total haemolymph protein titer and ovary fresh weight, as well as length of terminal oocytes. Attempts to reverse these effects by topical application of the juvenile hormone analog ZR-515 (methoprene) were only partly successful. Therefore, the in vivo effects may be due to a general inhibition of methyltransferase enzymes in the insect. Sinefungin appeared to be of potential interest as the first representative of a new class of insect growth regulators. |
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| Keywords: | Aspergillus nidulans Histidine-to-Aspartate (His-Asp) phosphorelay response regulator oxidative stress response conidia |
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