Chitin is an abundant aminopolysaccharide found in insect pests and phytopathogenic microorganisms but absent in higher plants and vertebrates. It is crucial for mitigating threats posed by chitin-containing organisms to human health, food safety, and agriculture. Therefore, targeting the chitin biosynthesis-associated bioprocess holds a promise for developing human-safe and eco-friendly antifungal agents or pesticides. Chitin biosynthesis requires chitin synthase and associated factors, which are involved in the modification, regulation, organization or turnover of chitin during its biosynthesis. A number of enzymes such as chitinases, hexosaminidases, chitin deacetylases are closely related and therefore are promising targets for designing novel agrochemicals that target at chitin biosynthesis. This review summarizes the advances in understanding chitin biology over the past decade by our research group and collaborates, specifically regarding essential proteins linked to chitin biosynthesis that can be exploited as promising pesticide targets. Examples of small bioactive molecules that against the activity of these targets are given.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |