In the past few years, transformation of plant genomes with proteinase inhibitor (PI) genes has been proposed as an effective way to produce insect-tolerant plants. For such a control approach, however, biochemical studies are necessary to assess the effect of PIs on not only insect digestive proteinases (target enzymes) but also plant endogenous proteinases (nontarget enzymes). As an example, transformation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) with oryzacystatin (OC) genes, two cysteine PIs, was considered for controlling Colorado potato beetle (CPB; Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say). The use of electrophoretic approaches and standard assays showed that CPB uses at least 14 cysteine proteinases for protein digestion throughout its development. Proteinases of the same class were also detected in sprouting potato tuber extracts, suggesting a potential interference of cPIs in transgenic plants. While OCs inhibit a significant fraction of CPB digestive proteinases, no inactivation of potato proteinases was detected. This apparent absence of direct interference suggests the real potential of OCs for producing CPB-tolerant transgenic potato plants.
POTENTIAL OF PROTEINASE INHIBITORS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TRANSGENIC PLANTS TOLERANT TO INSECT PESTS. I. FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS
