Characterisation of digestive proteinases of Eurygaster species and their inhibitors

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Infection of the growing wheat crop with bugs of the genera Eurygaster and Nysius leads to substantial losses of crop yield and quality in many countries including E. Europe (including Russia), W. Asia (Turkey), N. America, Australia and New Zealand. Although such infections do not yet occur in W. Europe they could spread as a result of climate change. The effects of bug infestation on crop quality result from the production of specific proteinase enzymes which digest the gluten network. We will therefore characterise these enzymes and identify specific inhibitors which could be exploited to provide protection. We will also determine the specificity of the recombinant proteinases and investigate potential applications in food processing and in protein analysis.

unavailable