ARS | Publication request: ANALYSIS OF A PUTATIVE GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE GENE FROM HESSIAN FLY

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: December 9, 2001
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Insect herbivores derive protection against toxic plant allelochemicals through a complex of general-purpose defensive enzymes to overcome the toxicity of plants they feed upon. These xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes are capable of undergoing induction to higher activities in response to low doses of dietary compounds. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes involved in detoxification mechanisms of many molecules and possibly in the transport of lipophilic compounds. Additionally, olfactory-specific GSTs have been reported and may play a dual role of protecting the olfactory system from harmful xenobiotics and inactivating aldehyde odorants. We have isolated a cDNA containing the full coding region for a GST-like protein from first instar larvae of Hessian fly. Analyses to determine the number, structure, and cytological location of genes encoding GST-like proteins have been undertaken. We propose the GST-like proteins have a role in the general interaction between Hessian fly and wheat.