Amplification of a Chimeric Bacillus Gene in Chloroplasts Leads to an Extraordinary Level of an Insecticidal Protein in Tobacco

Amplification of a Chimeric Bacillus Gene in Chloroplasts Leads to an Extraordinary Level of an Insecticidal Protein in Tobacco

The Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystal toxins are safe biological insecticides, but have short persistance and are poorly effective against pests that feed inside plant tissues. Production of effective levels of these proteins in plants has required resynthesis of the genes encoding them. We report...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bio/technology (New York, N.Y. 1983) Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 362 - 365
Main Authors: McBride, Kevin E, Svab, Zora, Schaaf, David J, Hogan, Patric S, Stalker, David M, Maliga, Pal
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 01-04-1995
Subjects:
Animals
Bacillus thuringiensis
Bacillus thuringiensis - genetics
Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
Bacterial Proteins - genetics
Bacterial Toxins
Chloroplasts - metabolism
Endotoxins - genetics
Gene Amplification
Gene Expression
Gene Transfer Techniques
Hemolysin Proteins
Moths
Mutagenesis
Nicotiana - metabolism
Pest Control, Biological
Plant Leaves - metabolism
Plants, Toxic
Plasmids - genetics
Recombinant Fusion Proteins
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Spodoptera
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Summary:The Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystal toxins are safe biological insecticides, but have short persistance and are poorly effective against pests that feed inside plant tissues. Production of effective levels of these proteins in plants has required resynthesis of the genes encoding them. We report that amplification of an unmodified crylA(c) coding sequence in chloroplasts up to approximately 10,000 copies per cell resulted in the accumulation of an unprecedented 3-5% of the soluble protein in tobacco leaves as protoxin. The plants were extremely toxic to larvae of Heliothis virescens, Helicoverpa zea, and Spodoptera exigua. Since the plastid transgenes are not transmitted by pollen, this report has implications for containment of Bt genes in crop plants. Furthermore, accumulation of insecticidal protein at a high level will facilitate improvement in the management of Bt resistant insect populations.
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ISSN:0733-222X
2331-3684
DOI:10.1038/nbt0495-362