Avidin and streptavidin as insecticidal and growth inhibiting dietary proteins
Morgan, T.D. | Oppert, B. | Czapla, T.H. | Kramer, K.J.
Avidin was found to be an insecticidal and growth inhibiting dietary protein for five species of Coleoptera (red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, confused flour beetle, T. confusum, sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaphilus surinamensis, rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, and lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica) and two species of Lepidoptera (European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, and Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella). At levels ranging from 10 to 1000 ppm in the diet depending on the species, avidin retarded the growth and caused mortality of all seven species. Addition of biotin to the avidin-treated diets for T. castaneum, T. confusum, R. dominica, and O. nubilalis prevented the growth inhibition and mortality caused by avidin. Streptavidin exhibited similar insecticidal and growth inhibiting activity towards T. castaneum and O. nubilalis. The results support the hypothesis that feeding avidin or streptavidin to insects causes a biotin deficiency which in turn leads to stunted growth and mortality. Avidin and streptavidin are insect growth inhibiting proteins whose genes potentially could be manipulated into plants and provide host plant resistance to insect pests.
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