A natural defense that helps plants ward off insect predators could lead to better crops and new treatments for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, as discovered by NIFA-supported researchers at Washington State University (WSU). As the building blocks of our bodies, proteins play important roles in plant and animal health. Special enzymes called proteases destroy proteins and must be carefully controlled to avoid problems like disease and early aging. Researchers found that when a seedling emerges from soil, inhibitors shut down and protease levels rise. When an insect tries to eat the plant, the protease attacks its digestive enzymes, causing the insect to seek a different meal.
Chief researcher Sachin Rustgi suggested a better understanding of protease activity could also improve human health. His findings reveal new insights on cancer progression and could lead to new therapies for cancer and other diseases.
Read more from WSU about Mouse ear cress.
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