Molecular requirements for the insecticidal activity of the plant peptide pea albumin 1 subunit b (PA1b).

PA1b (pea albumin 1, subunit b) is a small and compact 37-amino acid protein, isolated from pea seeds (Pisum sativum), that adopts a cystine knot fold. It acts as a potent insecticidal agent against major pests in stored crops and vegetables, making it a promising bioinsecticide. Here, we investigate the influence of individual residues on the structure and bioactivity of PA1b.

Toxicity, binding and internalization of the pea-A1b entomotoxin in Sf9 cells.

PA1b (Pea Albumin 1b) is a peptide toxin lethal for certain insects. This paper shows that the cultured insect cells Sf9 are sensitive to the toxin and display a high-affinity binding site for PA1b. Mammalian cells are not sensitive and no binding activity was detected.

Different levels of transcriptional regulation due to trophic constraints in the reduced genome of Buchnera aphidicola APS.

Symbiotic associations involving intracellular microorganisms and animals are widespread, especially for species feeding on poor or unbalanced diets. Buchnera aphidicola, the obligate intracellular bacterium associated with most aphid species, provides its hosts with essential amino acids (EAAs), nutrients in short supply in the plant phloem sap. The Buchnera genome has undergone severe reductions during intracellular evolution.

Hydrolysis of nuclear phospholipids in relation with proliferative state in uterine stromal cells.

The current study examined the metabolism of phospholipid (PL) in the whole cell homogenate and in the nuclear fraction in proliferative and non-proliferative uterine stromal cells (U(III) cells). Growth arrested cells were obtained either from contact-inhibited confluent cells or from proliferative cells treated with aristolochic acid (AR) for 2 days. Fatty acid composition and fatty acid amount of both total and nuclear PL were not significantly different between proliferative, confluent and AR-treated cells.