A fungal-derived compound, ChroB, has an unanticipated mode-of-action (only two were known for GABAA targeting insecticides, since the 1950s) through a site that resembles the neurosteroid mammalian site. And nearby, a new PIP2 site.

Our long term aim is to help develop environmentally benign insecticidal proteins. This mechanistic work is a first big milestone!

New preprint! @tatilab.bsky.social imaged the honeybee GABAA RDL receptor. ~10% of insecticides target insect GABAA receptors. She found a new allosteric modulation pocket, a PIP2 site, a closed avermectin-bound conformation, and maybe an unusual desensitized state. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...