Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry· 2026Q1
Structural Modification of Bifenox Derivatives: Discovery of Novel Diaryl Thioethers as Potent Insect Trehalase Inhibitors
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Diaryl thioether 2b-1, a novel bifenox derivative, shows potent insecticidal activity against Ostrinia furnacalis (LC50 = 34.7 mg/L), outperforming bifenox (LC50 = 61.2 mg/L) by inhibiting the insect trehalase enzyme.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Diaryl thioether 2b-1 inhibits insect trehalase with a Ki of 36.3 μM, outperforming bifenox (Ki = 56.5 μM).
- Compound 2b-1 exhibits stronger insecticidal activity against Ostrinia furnacalis (LC50 = 34.7 mg/L) than bifenox (LC50 = 61.2 mg/L).
- Molecular docking and DFT calculations show 2b-1 forms key interactions with the OfTreh active site.
- Transcriptomics confirms 2b-1 disrupts energy metabolism, detoxification, and cuticle remodeling in O. furnacalis larvae.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract To discover novel noncarbohydrate trehalase inhibitors, 62 bifenox derivatives were designed and synthesized in this study. Among them, diaryl thioether 2b-1 exhibited optimal trehalase inhibitory activity with 72.5% inhibition rate at 100 μM and a Ki value of 36.3 μM, superior to bifenox (56.5 μM). Insecticidal activity assay showed that compound 2b-1 displayed stronger insecticidal potency against Ostrinia furnacalis (LC50 = 34.7 mg/L) than bifenox (LC50 = 61.2 mg/L). Molecular docking and density functional theory (DFT) calculations proved 2b-1 formed abundant hydrogen bonds and π-sulfur interaction with key residues of OfTreh, accompanied by a lower energy gap and enhanced electrostatic potential distribution at the active sites. Transcriptomics further verified that 2b-1 disrupted energy metabolism, activated detoxification pathways, and interfered with cuticle remodeling of Ostrinia furnacalis larvae. Collectively, this work indicated that diaryl thioether 2b-1 could serve as a promising lead for developing novel trehalase-targeting insecticides.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Cellular and Molecular NeuroscienceNeuroscience