The chemistry of antifeedants and other behaviour inducing compounds

The objective is to develop efficient antifeedants against the pine weevil and to develop methods to synthesise odorous substances needed in the other biological subprojects. The substances could be attractants or repellents of insect or plant origin or they could be needed as references for the identification of the natural odour molecules.

Antifeedants against the pine weevil. To find the optimal antifeedant modern drug design methodology is used. By testing the biological activity of a large number of structurally diverse compounds a limited number of compounds showing desired activity can be identified. The substances included may be known antifeedant of other insects or compounds from non-host plants. Among these active substances a few, so called lead substances, are selected. Different parts of the lead substance molecules are modified for stronger and more persistent effects. These modifications must not induce toxicological threats to humans or the environment.

Other behaviour modifying compounds. We have also studied the synthesis of compounds needed in some of the other biological projects (Orchard pests, Stored product pests). Several biologically active compounds occur in different forms, so called isomers. Isomers of the same compound differ from each other by the relative orientation of the different parts of the molecule. Often only one of the isomers is active and two isomers of the same compound may have opposite effects. In order to obtain the desired isomer in a highly pure state enzymes are often used in the synthesis. One example is the synthesis of the flour beetle pheromone.

Place of research: Organic chemistry, Mitthögskolan, Sundsvall, Sweden

Participating scientists: Hans-Erik Högberg (project leader), Kristina Sjödin, Olof Smitt, Carina Ericsson

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