Proteases as Insecticidal Agents

Toxins

Robert L. Harrison¹ 

[1] Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Plant Sciences Institute, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA;

关键词: insecticides;    basement membrane;    cuticle;    peritrophic matrix;    plant defense;    microbial defense;   

DOI  :  10.3390/toxins2050935

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Proteases from a variety of sources (viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants, and insects) have toxicity towards insects. Some of these insecticidal proteases evolved as venom components, herbivore resistance factors, or microbial pathogenicity factors, while other proteases play roles in insect development or digestion, but exert an insecticidal effect when over-expressed from genetically engineered plants or microbial pathogens. Many of these proteases are cysteine proteases, although insect-toxic metalloproteases and serine proteases have also been examined. The sites of protease toxic activity range from the insect midgut to the hemocoel (body cavity) to the cuticle. This review discusses these insecticidal proteases along with their evaluation and use as potential pesticides.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland