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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #383660
Research Project: Discovery and Production of Beneficial Microbes for Control of Agricultural Pests through Integration into Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems

Location: Crop Bioprotection Research

Title: Enzymatic and antipest activity of maizewin, a defensive protein from maize

Author
item Dowd, Patrick
item Naumann, Todd
item Price, Neil
item Johnson, Eric

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2021
Publication Date: 8/22/2021
Citation: Dowd, P.F., Naumann, T.A., Price, N.P., Johnson, E.T. 2021. Enzymatic and antipest activity of maizewin, a defensive protein from maize [abstract]. American Chemical Society.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A maizewin gene was cloned from an ear rot resistant inbred of maize and expressed in Pichia pastoris and maize callus. The yeast-produced maizewin had chitinase, chitosanase, esterase, glucanase, lipase and RNAase activity as indicated by model substrates. Both the yeast-produced protein and callus expressing the maizewin gene significantly reduced growth of maize fungal (Fusarium spp.) and insect (fall armyworms and corn earworms) pests compared to control materials. Higher activity against pests was correlated with higher levels of maizewin in callus. As initial examination of available sequences from several inbreds, including others cloned, indicated sequence disruptions that would likely result in a nonfunctional protein, this gene would be a good candidate for gene editing in such cases.