title: Tryptophan Decarboxylase, Tryptamine, and Reproduction of the Whitefly.
abstract: Tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) from Catharanthus roseus (periwinkle) converts tryptophan to the indole-alkaloid tryptamine. When the TDC gene was expressed in transgenic tobacco, the 55-kD TDC enzyme and tryptamine accumulated. Bemisia tabaci (sweetpotato whitefly) reproduction on transgenic plants decreased up to 97% relative to controls. Production of tryptamine, its derivatives, or other products resulting from TDC activity may discourage whitefly reproduction and provide a single-gene-based plant protection strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry (J.C.T., D.G.A., H.J.B.) and Department of Plant Sciences (J.K.B., H.J.B.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721.
authors.forename: J. C.
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: D. G.
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: C. L.
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Nessler
authors.forename: J. K.
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: H. J.
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bohnert