THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP THE PDINTO AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCHER IN THE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, IN LINE WITH AFRI EWD STATED GOAL OF DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS. THIS RESEARCH ADDRESSES AFRI FARM BILL FOCUS AREA PRIORITY - PLANT HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS. HERBIVOROUS INSECTS AFFECT FOOD SUPPLY BY RECIPROCAL INTERACTION WITH CROP PLANTS IN MULTIFACETED WAYS. UNRAVELING MECHANISMS UNDERLYING ADAPTATION HAS PROVEN IMPORTANT IN IMPROVING SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. ADAPTATION OF HERBIVOROUS INSECTS TO HOST PLANTS IS HYPOTHESIZED TO BE INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH THE UBIQUITOUS DEVELOPMENT OF PESTICIDES RESISTANCE IN AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTS. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO DIRECT EVIDENCE TO PROVE THESE CONNECTIONS. USING COLORADO POTATO BEETLEAS A MODEL, I PROPOSE HERE A NOVEL MECHANISM BY WHICH PESTICIDE RESISTANCE AND HOST PLANT ADAPTATION MAY DIRECTLY INTERACT. IN THIS PROJECT, I WILL COMBINE INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES INCLUDING X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AND CHEMICAL METABOLISM TO STRUCTURALLY AND FUNCTIONALLY CHARACTERIZE TWO TARGET DETOXIFICATION PROTEINS IN PESTICIDE AND PLANT ALLELOCHEMICAL METABOLISM. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY ARE TO: 1) INVESTIGATE THE 3D STRUCTURES OF TWO TARGET PROTEINS BY X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AND MOLECULAR DOCKING OF THE STRUCTURES WITH MULTIPLE PESTICIDES AND PLANT ALLELOCHEMICALS; AND 2) PERFORM ENZYMATIC CHARACTERIZATION OF TARGET PROTEINS WITH PESTICIDES AND PLANT ALLELOCHEMICALS USING METABOLISM AND BINDING STUDIES. THROUGH THE COURSE OF THIS PROJECT, I ALSO EXPECT TO ENHANCE MY PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN RESEARCH, COMMUNICATION, TEACHING AND MENTORING.