An anti-juvenile hormone agent, ethyl 4-(2-benzylhexyloxy)benzoate, inhibits juvenile hormone synthesis through the suppression of the transcription of juvenile hormone biosynthetic enzymes in the corpora allata in Bombyx mori

Ethyl 4-[(S)-2-benzylhexyloxy)]benzoate (KF-13S), derived from ethyl 4-[2-(tert-butylcarbonyloxy)butoxy]benzoate (ETB), has strong anti-juvenile hormone (JH) activity which causes precocious metamorphosis in Bombyx mori, and the mode of action of this compound was studied. Application of KF-13S inhibited JH biosynthesis by the corpora allata (CA) in a reversible manner, and in vitro culture experiments showed that this inhibition was due to the direct action of this compound on the CA. When mRNA expression of the JH biosynthetic enzymes were studied, KF-13S strongly suppressed those of HMG Co-A synthase and HMG Co-A reductase. mRNA levels of other mevalonate enzymes and JH acid O-methyltransferase were also suppressed but were less sensitive to the compound. These studies showed that KF-13S prevents the transcription of many of the JH biosynthetic enzymes so that JH synthesis is suppressed.

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► KF-13 is an anti-juvenile hormone (JH) agent that causes precocious metamorphosis.
► KF-13 acts on the corpora allata directly and inhibits JH synthesis.
► The inhibition is due to the suppression of JH synthetic enzyme transcription.