A report on the work, appearing April 19 in the online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), raises the possibility that the protein -- TRPA1 -- is a new molecular target for controlling insect pests.
"We're interested in how TRPA1 and a whole family of so-called TRP channels affect not just the senses, like taste, but also behavior," says Craig Montell, Ph.D., a professor of biological chemistry and member of the Center for Sensory Biology in Johns Hopkins' Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences.
Montell notes that when his team knocked out the TRPA1 sensor, the behavior change -- an alteration in food preference -- was stark. "This is the first TRP channel in insects that responds to a naturally occurring plant chemical known as an antifeedant, so now we have a target for finding more effective chemicals to protect plants from destruction by insect pests."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100423113824.htm
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This article is interesting in that if they are able to control food preference of insects than it could be a much safer way than using things such as pesticides on farms. This could be a huge help for farmers and I would assume to be a healthier choice.
ReplyDelete