PA1b Homologs among Legume from Middle Eastern Region
The Fabaceae family, commonly known as legumes, plays a central role in various food systems, with significant socio-economic and environmental impacts. Their high protein content, consisting mainly of globulins and albumins, makes them valuable for human food and animal feed. Among the albumins, is Pea Albumin 1b (PA1b), a 37 amino acid peptide extracted from the seeds of the pea Pisum sativum. The protein displays the knottin scaffold and exhibits potent insecticidal activity against certain insect pests, including cereal weevils and mosquitoes. Several A1 genes encoding for this peptide had been characterized in soybean, bean, barrel medick, among other species. The aims of this study were to (i) assess the toxicity of seed flour of legumes of the Faboideae subfamily from the Middle East region against the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae and (ii) characterize these seeds' A1 genes content using PCR homology in order to (iii) assess their toxicity potential. Specifically, the research focuses on the sequence structure of PA1b variants and establishes the phylogeny of A1b homologs within the Fabaceae in order to study the evolution of toxicity in this multigenic family. Flour toxicity tests suggested that the newly characterized PA1b homologs that retained some structural properties also retained toxicity. The study observes both conservation and diversification among A1b homologs, consistent with the divergence of lineages within the Fabaceae family. The toxic effects associated with putative A1b molecules are found across and within species from different geographical origins. Novel candidates such as Vicia sativa and Medicago minima show promising A1b insecticidal activity.
The Fabaceae family, commonly known as legumes, plays a central role in various food systems, with significant socio-economic and environmental impacts. Their high protein content, consisting mainly of globulins and albumins, makes them valuable for human food and animal feed. Among the albumins, is Pea Albumin 1b (PA1b), a 37 amino acid peptide extracted from the seeds of the pea Pisum sativum. The protein displays the knottin scaffold and exhibits potent insecticidal activity against certain insect pests, including cereal weevils and mosquitoes. Several A1 genes encoding for this peptide had been characterized in soybean, bean, barrel medick, among other species. The aims of this study were to (i) assess the toxicity of seed flour of legumes of the Faboideae subfamily from the Middle East region against the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae and (ii) characterize these seeds' A1 genes content using PCR homology in order to (iii) assess their toxicity potential. Specifically, the research focuses on the sequence structure of PA1b variants and establishes the phylogeny of A1b homologs within the Fabaceae in order to study the evolution of toxicity in this multigenic family. Flour toxicity tests suggested that the newly characterized PA1b homologs that retained some structural properties also retained toxicity. The study observes both conservation and diversification among A1b homologs, consistent with the divergence of lineages within the Fabaceae family. The toxic effects associated with putative A1b molecules are found across and within species from different geographical origins. Novel candidates such as Vicia sativa and Medicago minima show promising A1b insecticidal activity.
Institut National des Sciences Appliquees de Lyon