9423356 McPheron Glutathione transferases are a ubiquitous gene family found in plants and animals. Glutathione transferases are involved in the conjugation of glutathione to reactive organic molecules, especially lipophilic or fat-loving molecules like many pesticides and plant allelochemicals. This research will analyze glutathione transferaqes in insecticide-resistant and insecticide-susceptible strains of an apple bud moth, and determine how this class of enzymes is expressed and functions. The effects of plant extracts of differing chemistries on glutathione transferase expression and activity will be monitored using radioactive glutathione transferase messenger RNA and also by using purified genetically-engineered glutathione transferases placed in E. coli ( a model bacterium used in molecular- genetic studies). Defining the interaction between glutathione transferase expression and activity and foreign organic molecules will lead to a greater understanding of the mechanisms by which organisms deal with potentially damaging chemical compounds. Because glutathione transferases are found in bacteria, plants and animals, the knowledge gained will be broadly applicable, ranging from increased understanding insecticide resistance to increased understanding of resistance to anti-cancer drugs in humans.
