RT Journal Article
T1 Phytocystatins: Defense Proteins against Phytophagous Insects and Acari
A1 Martinez, Manuel
A1 Santamaria, Maria
A1 Díaz Mendoza, María Mercedes
A1 Arnaiz, Ana
A1 Carrillo, Laura
A1 Ortego, Felix
A1 Diaz, Isabel
AB This review deals with phytocystatins, focussing on their potential role as defence proteins against phytophagous arthropods. Information about the evolutionary, molecular and biochemical features and inhibitory properties of phytocystatins are presented. Cystatin ability to inhibit heterologous cysteine protease activities is commented on as well as some approaches of tailoring cystatin specificity to enhance their defence function towards pests. A general landscape on the digestive proteases of phytophagous insects and acari and the remarkable plasticity of their digestive physiology after feeding on cystatins are highlighted. Biotechnological approaches to produce recombinant cystatins to be added to artificial diets or to be sprayed as insecticide–acaricide compounds and the of use cystatins as transgenes are discussed. Multiple examples and applications are included to end with some conclusions and future perspectives.
PB MDPI
SN 1661-6596
YR 2016
FD 2016
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/95388
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/95388
LA eng
NO Martinez, M.; Santamaria, M.E.; Diaz-Mendoza, M.; Arnaiz, A.; Carrillo, L.; Ortego, F.; Diaz, I. Phytocystatins: Defense Proteins against Phytophagous Insects and Acari. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17, 1747. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17101747
NO This work was supported by projects from Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (projects BIO2014-53508-R and 618105-FACCE-Era Net Plus). Maria Estrella Santamaria was recipient of post-doctoral grant from the subprogram Juan de la Cierva 2012 from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad.
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 9 abr 2025