A green chemistry approach to targeting Periplaneta americana's octopamine receptor 1

Concern over the use of conventional insecticides/pesticides has increased due to environmental and mammalian health concerns along with resistance to targeted insects. This has led to alternative control measures to combat both economically and medically important arthropods. Insecticidal efficacy at the insects' octopamine receptor is ideal because the receptor is not found in mammals at a significant level. Octopamine, a biogenic amine, exerts its physiological functions through G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Co-evolution of plants with insects has led to plants adapting defensive mechanisms to deter herbivore, microbial, or viral attack. This is sometimes accomplished via the production of essential oils that are composed of a variety of compounds, in particular various forms of terpenes. The presented research will focus on the development of a high-throughput screening system. Specifically, expression of a Periplaneta americana octopamine receptor in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This system allows us to determine the identity and pharmacology of this receptor. This system may be used to understand ligand-receptor interactions through competitive binding experiments using recombinant membrane preparations. It is the hope that this system will help in the identification of new and effective insecticidal terpenes from plant essential oils.