(S)-(+)-Methoprene

(S)-(+)-Methoprene (CAS No.: 65733-16-6) is a sesquiterpenoid insect growth regulator that functions as a potent analog of insect juvenile hormone and is widely employed as a model compound for studying hormone-regulated development and endocrine disruption in arthropods. It exerts its primary biological activity through high-affinity activation of the juvenile hormone receptor Methoprene-tolerant (Met), a transcription factor that modulates gene expression programs responsible for maintaining larval states and inhibiting metamorphosis, thereby blocking the transition from pupa to adult. In addition to its established role in insect endocrinology, (S)-(+)-methoprene has been reported to interact with mammalian cannabinoid receptor CB1, where it inhibits ligand binding at low micromolar concentrations, suggesting potential utility as a probe for receptor-ligand interaction studies. Its selective activity profile, characterized by pronounced effects in arthropods and comparatively low toxicity in mammals, makes it a valuable tool in comparative toxicology, receptor biology, and developmental signaling research. In vitro and in vivo applications commonly include investigations of hormone receptor signaling pathways, transcriptional regulation, and insecticide mode-of-action studies, with experimental concentrations or dosing regimens adjusted according to specific assay systems and research objectives.