Aliphatic amino diacid Asu functions as an effective mimic of Tyr(SO3H) in sulfakinins for myotropic and food intake-inhibition activity in insects.

The aliphatic amino diacid alpha-aminosuberic acid can function as an effective, stable mimic of the hydrolysis-susceptible Tyr(SO3H) group in sulfakinin neuropeptide analogs for both hindgut contractile activity in cockroach and food intake-inhibition activity in the desert locust. In the analog, the acidic sulfate group is replaced with an acidic carboxyl group. The degree of activity of sulfakinin analogs is correlated with the carboxyl/alpha-carbon distance in the cockroach hindgut contractile assay. The results represent an important step in the design and synthesis of biostable, sulfakinin analogs that could potentially suppress the feeding behavior of destructive insect pests of agricultural importance.