Neuropeptide and Peptidomimetic Analogs: Role in pest Management

Neuropeptides are short sequences of amino acids that function in all multicellular organisms to communicate information between cells. Insect neuropeptides mediate many critical processes such as pheromone production, diuresis, visceral muscle contraction (myotropic activity), blood sugar level, mating, and pupal development. The pyrokinin insect neuropeptides are particularly suitable for complete characterization. Insect neuropeptides of the insect kinin (IK) and pyrokinin or PBAN (PK or PBAN) family are both potent and specific, these molecular messengers are not suitably designed to be effective either as pest insect control agents or tools for insect neuroendocrinologists. Peptidomimetic analogs either over inactivate or block the critical neuropeptide regulated functions. Therefore Peptidomimetic analogs can change the mode of pest control strategies in near future.