NOVELTY - A recombinant plant cell (I) comprising a polynucleotide (II) encoding a pesticidal compound which is a trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF) compound, neuropeptide F (NPF) compound or a compound which binds to a TMOF receptor, is new.
USE - (I) is useful for controlling agricultural pests, in particular insects. (I) is useful for inhibiting the production of digestive enzymes in a pest to control the pest.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for the following:
(1) a method for controlling a plant pest by contacting the pest with a composition containing a pesticidal polypeptide which is a TMOF compound, binds to a TMOF receptor or is a NPF compound;
(2) a TMOF compound comprising repeating units of at least 3 amino acids, where the units are connected through at least 1 amino acid cleaved by a pest gut enzyme; and
(3) a method of inhibiting the production of one or more digestive enzymes in a pest comprising applying to the pest, or a pest-inhabited locus a recombinant cell transformed to produce a pesticidal polypeptide which is a TMOF compound or fragment, derivative or analogue, a polypeptide which binds to one or more TMOF receptors or fragment, derivative or analogue, or is a NPF compound, fragment, derivative or analogue.