title: A new gene from Xenorhabdus bovienii and its encoded protease inhibitor protein against Acyrthosiphon pisum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aphids are insect pests with significant importance worldwide for agricultural and horticultural crops. The chemical pesticides used to control aphids could result in pesticide residues in agricultural and horticultural products as well as in negative effects on the environment. Therefore, alternative control methods are urgently needed. This study identified a new gene from strain BJFS526 of the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus bovienii and expressed the protease inhibitor protein encoded by the gene. The effects of the protein on the pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, were also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gene PIN1 encoding the protease inhibitor protein against aphids was successfully cloned from BJFS526. The study demonstrated that the protein had adverse effects on pea aphid survival, and that the activity of aphid aminopeptidase was significantly inhibited by the protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from this study suggest that this gene and the protease inhibitor protein encoded may offer an alternative method to control aphids in the future.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China. Zengfr@caas.net.cn
authors.forename: Fanrong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Renfeng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Heqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Taozhen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020593:Xenorhabdus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D000626:Aminopeptidases