Advances in Agrochemicals ― Ion Channels and G Protein-coupled Receptors Gpcrs As Targets for Pest Control - Gpcrs and Ion Channels

Pest management often depends on the use of chemical insecticides that affect important physiological and pharmacological processes in arthropods. The development of chemical insecticides has primarily attacked the arthropod nervous system by targeting and disrupting the function of ligand-gated or voltage-gated ion channels. The use of broad classes of synthetic chemistries with common modes of action, along with the widespread, and sometimes improper, use of chemical insecticides has resulted in the urgent need to find new chemistry and novel or underutilized targets, such as G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for screening, discovery, and development of novel agrochemicals.

This book features contributions from the most highly regarded insecticide scientists in the world. It offers chapters that describe investigations on GPCR's that document the substantial progress that has been made recently in understanding the mechanisms of ligand interactions at the receptors, the downstream cascades, and the exciting promise that this large class of receptors has as targets for new agrochemical products. Multiple experts focus on the latest developments on characterization of their molecular pharmacology, on dopamine-specific GPCRs, and on the breadth of various GPCRs as future targets.

Dr. Aaron Gross is an Assistant Professor of Physiology and Toxicology in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He earned his doctoral degree from Iowa State University of Science and Technology, and his postdoctoral research training was at the Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida. His research interest include the discovery, and understanding the biochemical and neurophysiological mechanisms of action of naturally occurring and synthetic pesticides, with the goal of controlling arthropods that are important vectors of human and animal health.

Dr. Yoshihisa Ozoe is a specially appointed professor at Shimane University, Japan. He earned his doctoral degree in agricultural chemistry from Kyushu University, Japan, in 1982. He joined Dr. Fumio Matsumura's group at Michigan State University (1982-1984) and at University of California - Davis (1991). His research focus is on ligand-gated ion channels and G protein-coupled receptors as targets of insecticides. He is the recipient of the PSSJ High-Prospectiveness Award (1985), the PSSJ Prominent-Achievement Award (2004), and the ACS International Award for Research in Agrochemicals (2016).

Joel Coats is Distinguished Professor of Entomology & Toxicology at Iowa State University. He is an insect toxicologist with expertise in natural products as insecticides and insect repellents, including investigations of their selectivity, mechanisms of action, metabolism, synthesis of biorational derivatives and analogs, and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR). A current focus is on uses of terpenes from plant essential oils as repellents, insecticides or synergists. Joel holds 9 patents, has published 11 books and over 200 scientific papers/review articles/book chapters; he started the Toxicology Graduate Program at Iowa State that has run continuously since 1985.