Study of proteases and their substrates from Atta sexdens using degradomics approaches

• Grant number: 18/21746-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: January 21, 2019
• End date: September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: João Batista Fernandes
• Grantee: Hugo César Ramos de Jesus
• Supervisor: Christopher Overall
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of British Columbia, Vancouver (UBC), Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/15455-4 - Contribution to integrated studies for leaf-cutting ants control: search for new insecticides and fungicides - nanoencapsulation, BP.PD

Abstract

Proteases are responsible for regulate a wide range of essential cellular processes in all living organisms. They are a major group of hydrolytic enzymes in insects and are vital for proper cellular functioning in several physiological events such as reproduction, development, digestion, proenzyme activation, immune response amongst others. Accordingly, these enzymes are particularly promising targets for developing strategies for the control of agricultural pests. Through the use of approaches from the relatively new field of degradomics, it is possible to uncover the biological roles and molecular features of proteases in culture or in vivo. Thus, we will use degradomics approaches to identify proteases and their substrates in Atta sexdens. This will allow our understanding of physiological roles of these enzymes and thereby point to effective and sustainable A. sexdens control strategies. In addition, we will develop a hybrid method based on the cross-linking technique and degradomics approaches for identification and mapping of the molecular interactions between proteases and other proteins. (AU)