| abstract |
The present invention relates to a method to limit insect and/or mite damage in plants, by the use of mutant plant proteinase inhibitors. More specifically, it relates to the use of mutant serpins of which the reactive centre loop has been replaced by an artificial sequence. Preferably, said mutant serpins use an Arabidopsis thaliana serpin-1 backbone, or a homologue thereof. Said mutant serpins have a specificity other than the wild type serpins, and by modulating the reactive loop center, specific inhibitors against specific insect and/or mite proteases can be developed. Those mutant serpins can be used to inhibit or limit insect and/or mite damage, such as the damage caused by insect feeding. |