Identification of Potential Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Sterol Carrier Protein-2 Inhibitors Through High-Throughput Virtual Screening

Helicoverpa armigera sterol carrier protein-2 (HaSCP-2) is a validated target for development of novel insecticides due to its divergent protein structure and function from the vertebrate SCP-2. HaSCP-2 is important for normal development and fertility in Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). The discovery of chemical inhibitors of HaSCP-2 through a structure-based virtual screening is reported here. Bioassay indicated that H1 and H14 had inhibitory effect on the growth of H. armigera larvae. The results suggest that H1 and H14 are promising as useful lead compounds for further optimization and development of novel SCP-2-specific pesticides.

棉铃虫（Helicoverpa armigera）甾醇载体蛋白 - 2（HaSCP - 2）由于其蛋白质结构和功能与脊椎动物的SCP - 2不同，是开发新型杀虫剂的有效靶点。HaSCP - 2对棉铃虫的正常发育和繁殖力很重要。本文报道了通过基于结构的虚拟筛选发现HaSCP - 2的化学抑制剂。生物测定表明，H1和H14对棉铃虫幼虫的生长有抑制作用。结果表明，H1和H14作为有用的先导化合物，在进一步优化和开发新型SCP - 2特异性杀虫剂方面很有前景。