Afidopyropen, a novel insecticide originating from microbial secondary extracts.

Afidopyropen, a novel insecticide, is a derivative of pyripyropene A, which is produced by the filamentous fungus Penicillium coprobium. Afidopyropen has strong insecticidal activity against aphids and is currently used as a control agent of sucking pests worldwide. In this study, we summarized the biological properties and field efficacies of its derivatives against agricultural pests using official field trials conducted in Japan. Afidopyropen showed good residual efficacies against a variety of aphids, whiteflies and other sucking pests under field conditions. Furthermore, toxicological studies revealed its safety profiles against nontarget organisms, such as the honeybee, natural enemies and other beneficial insects, as well as mammals. Thus, afidopyropen is a next-generation agrochemical for crop protection that has a low environmental impact.

Synthesis of pyripyropene derivatives and their pest-control efficacy.

Pyripyropene A (PP-A), a secondary metabolite produced by filamentous fungi, shows insecticidal activity against agricultural insect pests. Synthesized PP derivatives also show a narrow insecticidal spectrum but high insecticidal activities against such sucking pests. PP-A has a low eco-toxicological impact and satisfies a prerequisite for next-generation insecticides. We investigated the effects of conversion of the 3-pyridyl and α-pyrone rings to other rings, as well as the effects of esterification, dehydration, and oxidization at the C-13 position in natural PP analogues, on the insecticidal activity and spectrum. The conversions of the 3-pyridyl and α-pyrone rings markedly reduced the insecticidal activity with a minimal impact on the spectrum, indicative of an important role for these rings in insecticidal activity. Some derivatives with modified structures at the C-13 position showed a higher inhibitory effect on the motility of canine heartworms and mosquito vectors than did PP-A, suggesting their utility as filaria control drugs.

Synthesis and insecticidal efficacy of pyripyropene derivatives. Part II-Invention of afidopyropen.

The synthesis and insecticidal activity of a series of pyripyropene derivatives with cyclopropanecarbonyloxy group(s) at the C-1, C-7 and/or C-11 position(s) were investigated to find novel insecticides. Insecticidal screening of the synthesized PP derivatives revealed that derivative 13, which had cyclopropanecarbonyloxy groups at the C-1 and C-11 positions and a hydroxyl group at the C-7 position, showed the highest insecticidal activity against aphids in laboratory tests. Finally, we selected 13 as a new insecticide candidate for agricultural sucking pests, which is now commercialized under the common name afidopyropen.

Insecticidal properties of pyripyropene A, a microbial secondary metabolite, against agricultural pests.

We previously reported the strong insecticidal activity of a microbial secondary metabolite, pyripyropene A (PP-A), against aphids. Pyripyropenes (PPs) have been known to show weak feeding inhibition against lepidopteran pests, but their strong aphicidal activities were first reported in our former study. Here we investigated the details of the insecticidal property of PP-A. Our biological evaluation of PP-A found that it shows high insecticidal activities against some sucking pests, such as whiteflies, as well as aphids, and preferable biological profiles as agricultural insecticides. Furthermore, PP-A controlled aphids well under field conditions.

Synthesis and insecticidal efficacy of pyripyropene derivatives focusing on the C-1, C-7, and C-11 positions' substituent groups.

The C-1, C-7, and C-11 positions of pyripyropene A were chemically modified to improve the insecticidal activity. Some derivatives showed higher insecticidal activities against aphids than pyripyropene A. In particular, the derivative 5c, which possesses three cyclopropyl carbonyl groups at the C-1, C-7, and C-11 positions, had excellent insecticidal activity levels in field and laboratory trials.

Flupyrimin: A Novel Insecticide Acting at the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors.

A novel chemotype insecticide flupyrimin (FLP) [N-[(E)-1-(6-chloro-3-pyridinylmethyl)pyridin-2(1H)-ylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide], discovered by Meiji Seika Pharma, has unique biological properties, including outstanding potency to imidacloprid (IMI)-resistant rice pests together with superior safety toward pollinators. Intriguingly, FLP acts as a nicotinic antagonist in American cockroach neurons, and [3H]FLP binds to the multiple high-affinity binding components in house fly nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor (nAChR) preparation. One of the [3H]FLP receptors is identical to the IMI receptor, and the alternative is IMI-insensitive subtype. Furthermore, FLP is favorably safe to rats as predicted by the very low affinity to the rat α4ß2 nAChR. Structure-activity relationships of FLP analogues in terms of receptor potency, featuring the pyridinylidene and trifluoroacetyl pharmacophores, were examined, thereby establishing the FLP molecular recognition at the Aplysia californica ACh-binding protein, a suitable structural surrogate of the insect nAChR. These FLP pharmacophores account for the excellent receptor affinity, accordingly revealing differences in its binding mechanism from IMI.

Identification of pyripyropene A as a promising insecticidal compound in a microbial metabolite screening.

Approximately 300 microbial natural products in our library were screened for insecticidal activities against three species of agricultural pests, including aphids. Among the several compounds that showed insecticidal activities, pyripyropene A had high aphicidal activity in vivo. Furthermore, in advanced tests, pyripyropene A applications with foliar sprays and soil drenching controlled aphids on cabbage. On the basis of its unique and promising activities, we selected pyripyropene A as the active component of potential insecticides.

Characterization of two acetyltransferase genes in the pyripyropene biosynthetic gene cluster from Penicillium coprobium.

Pyripyropenes potently and selectively inhibit acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase 2 (ACAT-2). Among multiple isomers of pyripyropene (A to R), pyripyropene A (PyA) has insecticidal properties in addition to its growth inhibition properties against human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Based on the predicted biosynthetic gene cluster of pyripyropene A, two genes (ppb8 and ppb9) encoding two acetyltransferases (ATs) were separately isolated and introduced into the model fungus Aspergillus oryzae, using the protoplast-polyethylene glycol method. The bioconversion of certain predicted intermediates in the transformants revealed the manner by which acetylation occurred in the biosynthetic pathway by the products expressed by these two genes (AT-1 and AT-2). The acetylated products detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the extracts from AT-1 and AT-2 transformant clones were not present in the extract from the transformant clone with an empty vector. The HLPC charts of each bioconversion study exhibited high peaks at 12, 10.5 and 9 min, respectively. Further ultraviolet absorption and mass spectrometry analyses identified the products as PyE, PyO and PyA, respectively. AT-1 acetylated the C-1 of deacetyl-pyripyropene E (deAc-PyE), while AT-2 played an active role in acetylating the C-11 of 11-deAc-PyO and C-7 of deAc-PyA at two different steps of the biosynthetic pathway.

Characterization of two cytochrome P450 monooxygenase genes of the pyripyropene biosynthetic gene cluster from Penicillium coprobium.

Pyripyropenes are potent inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase, which were initially discovered to be produced by Aspergillus fumigatus. Recently, Penicillium coprobium PF1169 has also found to produce pyripyropene A (PyA), which exhibits insecticidal properties. Pyripyropenes are natural hybrid products of both terpenoid and polyketide origin. In our research, based on data generated using the Genome Sequencer FLX for P. coprobium PF1169, we predicted the biosynthetic gene cluster of PyA by blast analysis comparing with polyketide synthase and prenyltransferase of other species. By screening the genomic fosmid library, nine open reading frames (ppb1 to ppb9) related to the biosynthesis of PyA were deduced. Among them, two cytochrome P450 monooxygenase genes (ppb3 and ppb4) were separately introduced into the model fungus A. oryzae. Bioconversion of certain predicted intermediates in the transformants has elucidated the manner of hydroxylation in the biosynthetic pathway by the expressed products of these two genes (P450-1 and P450-2). That is, P450-1 exhibits monooxygenase activity and plays the hydroxylation role at C-11 of pyripyropene E. While P450-2 plays an active role in the hydroxylation of C-7 and C-13 of pyripyropene O.

Synthesis of NH006--a photostable fungicide effective against Botrytis cinerea--according to the asymmetric total synthesis of MK8383.

MK8383, isolated from Phoma sp. T2526 in 1993, exhibits potent antibiotic activities against a variety of phytopathogens and has been considered a promising fungicide against Botrytis cinerea. Unfortunately, MK8383 is a photosensitive compound and it undergoes irreversible decomposition. Although much effort has been devoted to improving the photostability of MK8383 by chemical modification of its structure by a research group organized by Meiji Seika Kaishya, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, a photostable MK8383 derivative has never been prepared. We have found that a C13-14 double bond of MK8383 and (+)-phomopsidin is responsible for the photosensitivity, and herein, we report the synthesis of NH006, an MK8383 derivative with a saturated C13-14 double bond and (S) configuration at C14, based on the asymmetric total synthesis of MK8383. NH006 exhibits good photostability and potent antifungal activity against B. cinerea.

Contribution of salicylic acid glucosyltransferase, OsSGT1, to chemically induced disease resistance in rice plants.

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR), a natural disease response in plants, can be induced chemically. Salicylic acid (SA) acts as a key endogenous signaling molecule that mediates SAR in dicotyledonous plants. However, the role of SA in monocotyledonous plants has yet to be elucidated. In this study, the mode of action of the agrochemical protectant chemical probenazole was assessed by microarray-based determination of gene expression. Cloning and characterization of the most highly activated probenazole-responsive gene revealed that it encodes UDP-glucose:SA glucosyltransferase (OsSGT1), which catalyzes the conversion of free SA into SA O-beta-glucoside (SAG). We found that SAG accumulated in rice leaf tissue following treatment with probenazole or 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid. A putative OsSGT1 gene from the rice cultivar Akitakomachi was cloned and the gene product expressed in Escherichia coli was characterized, and the results suggested that probenazole-responsive OsSGT1 is involved in the production of SAG. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated silencing of the OsSGT1 gene significantly reduced the probenazole-dependent development of resistance against blast disease, further supporting the suggestion that OsSGT1 is a key mediator of development of chemically induced disease resistance. The OsSGT1 gene may contribute to the SA signaling mechanism by inducing up-regulation of SAG in rice plants.

Alantrypinone and its derivatives: synthesis and antagonist activity toward insect GABA receptors.

The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor bears important sites of action for insecticides. Alantrypinone is an insecticidal alkaloid that acts as a selective antagonist for housefly (vs rat) GABA receptors, and is considered to be a lead compound for the development of a safer insecticide. In an attempt to obtain compounds with greater activity, a series of racemic alantrypinone derivatives were systematically synthesized using hetero Diels-Alder reactions, and a total of 34 compounds were examined for their ability to inhibit the specific binding of [(3)H]4'-ethynyl-4-n-propylbicycloorthobenzoate, a high-affinity non-competitive antagonist, to housefly-head membranes. The assay results showed that (1) there is no significant difference between the potencies of natural (+)-alantrypinone and its synthetic racemate; (2) the amide NHs at the 2- and 18-positions are important for high activity; (3) there is a considerable drop in potency for compounds without an aromatic ring at the 16-position; and (4) a large substituent at the 3-position is detrimental to high activity.