Juvenile hormone signaling pathway (JH pathway)

The Juvenile hormone pathway refers to a collection of hormonal, enzymatic, and signaling events controlling juvenile hormone (JH) synthesis, secretion, action, and degradation in insects. JH itself is a sesquiterpenoid hormone produced primarily by the corpora allata glands. The pathway governs molting, metamorphosis, reproductive maturation, caste differentiation, diapause, and stress response[1][2][4][5][7]. Key molecular components include biosynthetic enzymes (e.g., juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase), regulatory transcription factors (such as Methoprene-tolerant, an intracellular JH receptor), and downstream genetic targets[6]. The JH signaling pathway is a major target for insect growth regulator insecticides. It is not a single protein, receptor, or molecule, but rather a complex endocrine signaling system comprising multiple molecular targets[6]. Thus, "Juvenile hormone pathway" is not a precise therapeutic target but a pathway encompassing several molecular entities, some of which (e.g., Methoprene-tolerant, JH acid methyltransferase) are true targets for insecticides[6].

Other names

Juvenile hormone pathwayJuvenile hormone signaling pathwayJH pathwayJuvenile hormone biosynthesis pathway

Agonists: Mimic JH hormone, activating the JH signaling pathway and disrupting development/reproduction in target insects; Antagonists/biosynthesis inhibitors: Inhibit JH production or signaling, leading to abnormal development or death in insects