Peptides Derived From Reactive Center Loops Inhibit Digestive Trypsin-Like Enzymes in Lepidopteran Pests.

ABSTRACT: Soybean yield is often reduced by pest attacks. Among these, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) stands out as one of the most important defoliating pests of soybean. Therefore, the development of new bioinsecticides targeting Lepidopteran pests is an urgent need. Protease inhibitors (PIs) have emerged as promising molecules in this context. In this study, we designed four peptides (TGPCK, TGPCR, AVIMK, and AVIMR) inspired by the reactive center loops of BPTI and SKTI to assess their potential as competitive inhibitors of trypsin-like proteases in A. gemmatalis. In silico and kinetic analyses revealed that peptide binding affinity was influenced by specific chemical interactions, with pi-sigma bonds correlating with higher affinity for AVIMK, while alkyl/pi-alkyl and C-H

SUBMITTER: Paulo DGS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12784448 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature