paracelsin and antiamoebin

The effect of different representatives of the group of peptaibiotics, alpha-amino-isobutyric acid rich secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi, on Culex pipiens larvae was studied. Light and transmission electron microscopy techniques were used to localize the intracellular damage and to determine the target organells for the mode of action of peptaibols in mosquito larvae. Though different in insecticidal activity, all tested compounds induced the same type of tissue damage, which was characterized by heavy challenge of mitochondria followed by partial swelling, crystaeolysis and destruction of mitochondrial walls. It is concluded that the mode of action of peptaibols in mosquito larvae is mediated through the damage of mitochondria. The structure-mosquitocidal effect of these compounds, their potential mode of action and role in the natural fungal entomopathogenic process are briefly discussed.

Topics: Alamethicin; Amino Acid Sequence; Aminoisobutyric Acids; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Culicidae; Fungi; Insecticides; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Larva; Mitochondria; Molecular Sequence Data; Organic Chemicals; Peptaibols; Peptides; Peptides, Cyclic