Mechanisms of juvenile hormone action in insects could help fine tune pesticides
Tuesday, January 18, 2011 - 00:30
in Biology & Nature
Researchers have discovered an important step in the activation of juvenile hormone target genes. As butterflies, fruit flies and mosquitoes transform their body structures as they molt from larva to pupa and then adults, a group of juvenile hormones called isoprenoids, inhibit development of adult characteristics until the insects reach a proper stage. Juvenile hormones also play a prominent role in regulating reproductive maturation in adult insects and synthetic juvenile hormone mimics have been widely used as pesticides for mosquito controls.