Tryptophan Decarboxylase, Tryptamine, and Reproduction of the Whitefly

J. C. Thomas; D. G. Adams; C. L. Nessler; J. K. Brown; H. J. Bohnert

doi:10.1104/pp.109.2.717

Tryptophan Decarboxylase, Tryptamine, and Reproduction of the Whitefly

Plant Physiol. 1995 Oct;109(2):717-720. doi: 10.1104/pp.109.2.717.

Authors

J. C. Thomas¹, D. G. Adams, C. L. Nessler, J. K. Brown, H. J. Bohnert

Affiliation

¹ Department of Biochemistry (J.C.T., D.G.A., H.J.B.) and Department of Plant Sciences (J.K.B., H.J.B.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721.

Abstract

Tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) from Catharanthus roseus (periwinkle) converts tryptophan to the indole-alkaloid tryptamine. When the TDC gene was expressed in transgenic tobacco, the 55-kD TDC enzyme and tryptamine accumulated. Bemisia tabaci (sweetpotato whitefly) reproduction on transgenic plants decreased up to 97% relative to controls. Production of tryptamine, its derivatives, or other products resulting from TDC activity may discourage whitefly reproduction and provide a single-gene-based plant protection strategy.