Data di Pubblicazione:
2019
Abstract:
Microbial chitinases are gaining interest as promising candidates for controlling
plant pests. These enzymes can be used directly as biocontrol agents as well
as in combination with chemical pesticides or other biopesticides, reducing their
environmental impact and/or enhancing their efficacy. Chitinolytic enzymes can target
two different structures in insects: the cuticle and the peritrophic matrix (PM). PM,
formed by chitin fibrils connected to glycoproteins and proteoglycans, represents a
physical barrier that plays an essential role in midgut physiology and insect digestion,
and protects the absorptive midgut epithelium from food abrasion or pathogen
infections. In this paper, we investigate how two recently discovered metagenomesourced
chitinases (Chi18H8 and 53D1) affect, in vitro and in vivo, the PM integrity of
Bombyx mori, a model system among Lepidoptera. The two chitinases were produced
in Escherichia coli or, alternatively, in the unconventional – but more environmentally
acceptable – Streptomyces coelicolor. Although both the proteins dramatically altered
the structure of B. mori PM in vitro, when administered orally only 53D1 caused adverse
and marked effects on larval growth and development, inducing mortality and reducing
pupal weight. These in vivo results demonstrate that 53D1 is a promising candidate as
insecticide protein.
Tipologia CRIS:
Articolo su Rivista
Keywords:
insecticidal proteins, chitinase, metagenomics, heterologous expression, Streptomyces, insect
control, Bombyx mori, peritrophic matrix
Elenco autori:
Berini, Francesca; Casartelli, Morena; Montali, Aurora; Reguzzoni, Marcella; Tettamanti, Gianluca; Marinelli, Flavia
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