Structural analysis of the unique insecticidal activity of novel mungbean defensin VrD1 reveals possibility of homoplasy evolution between plant defensins and scorpion neurotoxins.

A variety of evolutionarily related defensin molecules is found in plants and animals. Plant gamma-thionins and scorpion neurotoxins, for instance, may be categorized in this functional group, although each class recognizes a distinct receptor binding site. Such molecules are also categorized into the superfamily of cysteine-rich proteins.