The Methoprene-tolerant (Met) protein has finally emerged as the long-sought receptor of the insect juvenile hormone (JH) through a recent study by the Czech scientist Marek Jindra and his international team. The cartoon represents the beetle Tribolium along with a model structure of the hormone-binding pocket of Met. The design by Martina Hajduskova is based on the original Czech memory game “pexeso”, in which one wins by disclosing pairs of cards with matching images. Cover designed for the original publication and for the “EMBO Cover Contest 2012”.

See the publication:
Charles JP, Iwema T, Epa VC, Takaki K, Rynes J, Jindra M (2011) Ligand-binding properties of a juvenile hormone receptor, Methoprene-tolerant. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108: 21128-21133. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1116123109