Enhancement of plant proteinase inhibitors for the protection of crop plants against insect attack (2005-2008)
Abstract
The aim of this project is to characterise the interactions between various known plant proteinase inhibitors and the major digestive enzymes of insects by structural and dynamic studies and to utilise mutational studies to design new inhibitors that more effectively bind to target proteinases. The outcomes will be the knowledge to design specific inhibitors to give optimal inhibition of specific insect proteinases. This knowledge will lead to novel approaches to protect economically important crops, such as cotton, from insect pests in Australia - potentially saving tens of millions of dollars per annum in chemical pesticide use and enhancing crop production in Australia and internationally.
