Ontdekking van de gereedschapskist van de natuur voor gewasbescherming: het
afschrikwekkende potentieel van plantenextracten
De biologische wapenwedloop tussen insecten en planten heeft geresulteerd in een verscheidenheid aan stoffen
die potentieel toepasbaar zijn als alternatief voor pesticiden. Een nieuwe screeningtool, LC-MS-ReceptomiX,
kan het onderzoek en de industrie ondersteunen om deze stoffen te benutten. We zullen de LC-MS-ReceptomiX
verder ontwikkelen om nieuwe plantaardige stoffen te identificeren die afstotend werken via de
smaakreceptoren van insecten. Als proof-of-principle zullen we smaakreceptoren van Pieris vlinders op de
biochip inbouwen die een sterke afstoting veroorzaken tegen cardenolides. Vervolgens zullen we zowel
cardenolides als andere plantenstoffen testen. Deze tool kan bijdragen aan de ontwikkeling van veilige
biologische middelen die vraat tegengaan.

This project aims to exploit the mechanism underlying the molecular interaction between
insect gustatory receptors and plant secondary metabolites for the discovery and development of
novel insect biodeterrents. With this purpose, we will make use of the highly sensitive gustatory receptors
of Pieris spp. that evolved as a form of early warning mechanism against toxic cardenolides.
Altogether, previous research combined with the current advanced methodologies provide an
important starting point to generate an insect gustatory receptor-based biochip for the screening of plantderived
biodeterrents. The collected data will also provide a deeper understanding of the chemical ecology of
insect-plant interactions and contribute to the development of safe insect biodeterrents.

The arms-race between insect herbivores and plants has produced a vast array of defence and counter-defence
mechanisms, resulting in an extreme diversity of bioactive compounds. Many of these compounds hold the
potential to act as insect deterrents and might therefore be used as a safe alternative to conventional
insecticides. In this project, we will expand the newly established biochip, the LC-MS-ReceptomiX system, with
insect gustatory receptors, to screen unknown plant extracts and discover bioactive plant metabolites. To
showcase this approach, we will leverage the well-studied interaction of cruciferous plants and specialist
cabbage herbivores. These plants produce glucosinolates, which are highly toxic to most insects except for
specialist feeders that are capable of detoxifying these compounds. In response to these specialists, some
Brassicaceae have evolved entirely novel insecticidal compounds, such as cardenolides. Several specialist
herbivores have displayed a strong deterrence against these novel toxins upon gustatory contact. In Pieris
butterflies, cardenolides strongly stimulate taste neurons as a taste-based early warning mechanism. To exploit
this evolved avoidance response for the discovery of novel deterrent plant metabolites, we will combine
molecular, neurobiological, and behavioural methods: We will establish an insect gustatory receptor-based
biochip and apply it to screen for deterrent extracts of Brassicaceae, using the gustatory receptors of the
specialist herbivore Pieris rapae. Additionally, we will validate the behavioural effect of the candidate deterrents
in vivo using butterflies. Finally, the validated LC-MS-ReceptomiX platform will be applied to other plant
extracts and pest insects and thereby contribute to the development of safe insect bio-deterrents.