Protein proteinase inhibitor genes in combat against insects, pests, and pathogens: natural and engineered phytoprotection.
The continual need to increase food production necessitates the development and application of novel biotechnologies to enable the provision of improved crop varieties in a timely and cost-effective way. A milestone in this field was the introduction of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) entomotoxic proteins into plants. Despite the success of this technology, there is need for development of alternative strategies of phytoprotection. Biotechnology offers sustainable solutions to the problem of pests, pathogens, and plant parasitic nematodes in the form of other insecticidal protein genes. A variety of genes, besides (Bt) toxins that are now available for genetic engineering for pest resistance are genes for vegetative insecticidal proteins, proteinase inhibitors, alpha-amylase inhibitors, and plant lectins. This review presents a comprehensive summary of research efforts that focus on the potential use and advantages of using proteinase inhibitor genes to engineer insect- and pest-resistance. Crop protection by means of PI genes is an important component of Integrated Pest Management programmes.
Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India.
Soghra Khatun
SK
Haq
Shaikh Muhammad
SM
Atif
Rizwan Hasan
RH
Khan
D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006376:Helminths / Q000187:drug effects*; D007313:Insecta / Q000187:drug effects*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*
D005819:Genetic Markers; D011480:Protease Inhibitors