Abstract: The present invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding insect nuclear receptor polypeptides, isolated insect nuclear polypeptides, and uses thereof. The disclosed insect nuclear receptor nucleic acids and polypepides can be used in screening assays to identify insecticidal compounds. The disclosed insect nuclear receptor nucleic acids and polypeptides can further be used as components of a chimeric expression cassette for inducible gene expression.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences are isolated from Drosophila melanogaster that code for proteins essential for larval viability. These proteins are useful for discovering new insecticides based on the essentiality of the nucleotide sequences for Drosophila larval viability. Further provided are recombinant proteins and methods for identifying inhibitors to these proteins. Protein inhibitors active in the methods disclosed herein are useful as insecticidal, ectoparasiticidal, antiparasitic, anthementhic and acaracidal agents.