Abstract
PA1b (Pea Albumin 1, subunit b) is a peptide extract from pea seeds showing significant insecticidal activity against certain insects, such as cereal weevils (genus Sitophilus), the mosquitoes Culex pipiens and Aedes aegyptii, and certain species of aphids. PA1b has great potential for use on an industrial scale and for use in organic farming: it is extracted from a common plant; it is a peptide (and therefore suitable for transgenic applications); it can withstand many steps of extraction and purification without losing its activity; and it is present in a seed regularly consumed by humans and mammals without any known toxicity or allergenicity. The potential of this peptide to limit pest damage has stimulated research concerning its host range, its mechanism of action, its three-dimensional structure, the natural diversity of PA1b and its structure-function relationships.
Highlights
IntroductionInsecticides in particular, are increasingly used around the world, but they are increasingly stigmatized because of their persistence and their toxicity to non-target organisms (impacting amphibians, aquatic wildlife, beneficial insects such as bees and ladybugs, and even causing mortality among farmers, in developing countries)
Chemical pesticides in general, and insecticides in particular, are increasingly used around the world, but they are increasingly stigmatized because of their persistence and their toxicity to non-target organisms
This data suggests that PA1b is the source of insect resistance in Legume seeds and, adaptation to feeding on Legume seeds necessitates a loss of binding capacity of the toxin [6]
Summary
Insecticides in particular, are increasingly used around the world, but they are increasingly stigmatized because of their persistence and their toxicity to non-target organisms (impacting amphibians, aquatic wildlife, beneficial insects such as bees and ladybugs, and even causing mortality among farmers, in developing countries). One of the most promising sources for such compounds is probably plants, which have developed many ways to fight against insects (as well as against fungal and bacterial attacks) and one of these is the use of chemicals. Numerous molecules have yet to be identified in plants as regards their ability to counter insect, fungal or bacterial attacks These molecules could be of a proteinaceous nature, including thionins, defensins, lipid transfer protein, snakins or protease inhibitors. PA1b is one of the few orally active entomotoxin peptides currently known It displays outstanding insecticidal activity against certain insects, such as grain weevils PA1b has many advantages in terms of agricultural use It is a peptide purified from a plant (Pisum sativum) and, a plant regularly consumed by humans and other mammals without any sign of toxicity or allergenicity
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