Regulation of proteinase inhibitor genes in food plants

Proteinase inhibitor proteins in the families Solanaceae, Leguminosae and Graminae are stored in seeds and tubers and are also found to accumulate in leaves in response to pest attacks. The isolation of the proteinase Inhibitor I cDNA and its gene from tomato has provided information concerning proteinase inhibitor synthesis, processing and compartmentation in leaves under pest attacks. Strategies are now being developed using proteinase inhibitor genes, to genetically engineer the quantity and quality of these potentially defensive and highly nutritional proteins of important crop plants.