A plant gene crossed into insects and helps them feed

摘要

ONE species of whitefly, an aphid-like insect, has incorporated a portion of plant DNA into its genome that protects it from leaf toxins. It appears to be the first known example of so-called horizontal gene transfer between a plant and insect in which the transferred genetic material performs a useful function. While sequencing the genome of the silverleaf whitef ly (Bemisia tabaci), Ted Turlings at the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland and his colleagues discovered a gene known as BtPMaT1, which is found in numerous plants, but has never previously been seen in insects (Cell, doi.org/f3k9). This gene is thought to have an important botanical function. Many plants generate toxins to defend themselves from attack by animals. The team suspects that the BtPMaT1 gene helps some of these plants store these toxins in a harmless form so they don't poison themselves.