English Journal

Multifunctional amaranth cystatin inhibits endogenous and digestive insect cysteine endopeptidases: A potential tool to prevent proteolysis and for the control of insect pests.

Valdés-Rodríguez S1, Galván-Ramírez JP, Guerrero-Rangel A, Cedro-Tanda A.
Biotechnology and applied biochemistry.Biotechnol Appl Biochem.2014 Oct 27. doi: 10.1002/bab.1313. [Epub ahead of print]
In a previous study, the amaranth cystatin was characterized. This cystatin is believed to provide protection from abiotic stress because its transcription is induced in response to heat, drought, and salinity. It has also been shown that recombinant amaranth cystatin inhibits bromelain, ficin, and
PMID 25345487

Variation in cyanogenic glycosides across populations of wild lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) has no apparent effect on bruchid beetle performance.

Shlichta JG1, Glauser G, Benrey B.
Journal of chemical ecology.J Chem Ecol.2014 May;40(5):468-75. doi: 10.1007/s10886-014-0434-0. Epub 2014 May 27.
Cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs) act as feeding or oviposition deterrents and are toxic after enzymatic hydrolysis, thus negatively affecting herbivore performance. While most studies on CNGs focus on leaf herbivores, here we examined seeds from natural populations of Phaseolus lunatus in Mexico. The pr
PMID 24863488

Azadirachtin-induced hormesis mediating shift in fecundity-longevity trade-off in the Mexican bean weevil (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae).

Mallqui KS, Vieira JL, Guedes RN, Gontijo LM.
Journal of economic entomology.J Econ Entomol.2014 Apr;107(2):860-6.
Insecticides can have lethal or sublethal effects upon targeted pest species, and sublethal effects may even favor pest outbreaks if insecticide-induced hormesis occurs. Hormesis is a biphasic dose-response of a given chemical compound that is stimulatory at low doses and toxic at high doses. The fo
PMID 24772571

Japanese Journal

Digestion of legume starch granules by larvae of Zabrotes subfasciatus (Coleoptera : Bruchidae) and the induction of α-amylases in response to different diets

Molecular cloning of bruchid (Zabrotes subfasciatus) α-amylase cDNA and interactions of the expressed enzyme with bean α-amylase inhibitors