Campus Units
Entomology
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
7-2013
Journal or Book Title
Pest Management Science
Volume
69
Issue
7
First Page
775
Last Page
780
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.3443
Abstract
Background
The phenolic monoterpenoid carvacrol, which is found in many plant essential oils (thyme, oregano and Alaska yellow cedar), is highly active against pest arthropods, but its mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Here, carvacrol is shown to bind in a membrane preparation containing insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). [14C]-Nicotine binding assays with Musca domestica (housefly) nAChRs were used in this study to demonstrate carvacrol's binding to nAChRs, thereby acting as a modulator of the receptors.
Results
Carvacrol showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of [14C]-nicotine binding in a membrane preparation of housefly heads containing nAChRs, with IC50 = 1.4 μM, in a non-competitive pattern. Binding studies with neonicotinoid insecticides revealed that imidacloprid and thiamethoxam did not inhibit the binding of [14C]-nicotine, while dinotefuran, from the guanidine subclass of neonicotinoids, inhibited nicotine binding like carvacrol.
Conclusions
Carvacrol binds to housefly nAChRs at a binding site distinct from nicotine and acetylcholine, and the nAChRs are a possible target of carvacrol for its insecticidal activity.© 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Copyright Owner
Society of Chemical Industry
Copyright Date
2012
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Tong, Fan; Gross, Aaron D.; Dolan, Marc C.; and Coats, Joel R., "The phenolic monoterpenoid carvacrol inhibits the binding of nicotine to the housefly nicotinic acetylcholine receptor" (2013). Entomology Publications. 399.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ent_pubs/399
Included in
Entomology Commons, Other Plant Sciences Commons, Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons, Plant Pathology Commons
Comments
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article in Pest Management Science, July 2013, 69(7); 775-780., which has been published in final form at doi:10.1002/ps.3443. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving."