INSECTICIDAL COMPOUNDS FROM SEGESTRIA FLORENTINA

摘要

New insecticidal agents which comprise a polypeptide having a partial amino acid sequence: X?1ECMX2DX3TVCYIX4¿N (SEQ ID NO 3) or partial amino acid sequence: CENCWQYCDR (SEQ ID NO 4) where X?1, X2, X3 and X4¿ are variable amino acids; and a molecular weight of less than 6kDa, are described. Agents of this type may be obtainable from Segestria florentina or a fragment, variant or derivative thereof. Sequences encoding these toxins may be incorporated into insect viruses such as baculoviruses, or into recombinant plants in order to exert their toxic effect.