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Department of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4PS, UK
¹ Laboratoire Protéines: Biochimie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 7 Quai St. Bernard, F-75252 Paris 05, France

(Requests for offprints should be addressed to L Dinan who is now at 30 Hederman Close, Silverton, Nr. Exeter, Devon EX5 4HW, UK; Email: laurie{at}dinan.wanadoo.co.uk)

Zooecdysteroids (arthropod steroid hormones) regulate the development of arthropods and probably many other invertebrates. Phytoecdysteroids are analogues occurring in a wide range of plant species, where they contribute to the deterrence of phytophagous invertebrates. The purpose of this short review is to summarise findings on the occurrence, metabolism and pharmacological effects of ecdysteroids in mammalian systems and to draw attention to their potential applications, particularly in gene-switch technology, where ecdysteroid analogues (steroidal and non-steroidal) can be used as effective and potent elicitors.