Abstract
Peptidase inhibitors (PIs) are defense proteins of plants which are active against gut peptidases of different insects. Sapindus mukorossi was identified as a source of bioactive PIs which could confer resistance against Bactrocera cucurbitae, a most devastating pest of several economically important crops. In the present study, a trypsin inhibitor was purified from mature dry seeds of S. mukorossi and characterized for its biochemical properties as well as its potential for bio control of B. cucurbitae. The purified fractions from RP- HPLC through SDS-PAGE gave an apparent molecular weight of ~29 kDa. S. mukorossi trypsin inhibitor (SMTI) was found to be a non-competitive inhibitor which was active over a broad range of temperature (10–100 °C) and pH (6–11). SMTI when incorporated in artificial diet inhibited the growth and development of B. cucurbitae larvae. Gene expression analysis of trypsin and chymotrypsin genes via qRT-PCR indicated that their mRNA expression was down-regulated while that of other genes namely, Catalase, Elastase, Superoxide Dismutase, Glutathione –S-transferase and Alkaline Phosphatase was up regulated. SMTI also showed deleterious effects against different bacterial strains. The results of this study indicated that S. mukorossi trypsin inhibitor has potential to be used as a bio control agent that can reduce the harm caused by melon fruit fly and other devastating pests.
Highlights
Peptidase inhibitors (PIs) are defense proteins of plants which are active against gut peptidases of different insects
Transgenic plants exhibiting PIs expression have been evaluated as an alternative approach for defense against insect pests as they are safe and environment friendly compared to chemical pesticides[6]
Our findings suggest that S. mukorossi trypsin inhibitor (SMTI) has potential to impair the growth and development of B. cucurbitae larvae by altering its physiological and biochemical processes and can be explored for the development of resistant plants by plant breeders
Summary
Peptidase inhibitors (PIs) are defense proteins of plants which are active against gut peptidases of different insects. A trypsin inhibitor was purified from mature dry seeds of S. mukorossi and characterized for its biochemical properties as well as its potential for bio control of B. cucurbitae. The results of this study indicated that S. mukorossi trypsin inhibitor has potential to be used as a bio control agent that can reduce the harm caused by melon fruit fly and other devastating pests. No studies have been carried out to evaluate the effect of the plant PIs from S. mukorossi against economically important agricultural insect pests. In present study a trypsin inhibitor from S. mukorossi seeds was purified, characterized and further evaluated for its insecticidal effects against B. cucurbitae using bioassays, enzyme assays and gene expression analyses
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