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Abstract
We used site-directed mutagenesis to modify the
Bacillus cry3A gene in amino acid residues 350-354. Two mutant toxins, A1 (R
345A, Y
350F, Y
351F) and A2 (R
345A,DeltaY
350, DeltaY
351, showed significantly improved toxicity against
Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm). The mutant toxin A1 was also more potent against both
Leptinotarsa decemlineats (Colorado potato beetle) and
Chrysomela scripta (cottonwood leaf beetle), while A2 displayed enhanced toxicity only in L.
decemlineata. Competitive binding assays of L.
decemlineata brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) revealed that binding affinities for the A1 and A2 mutant toxins were ca. 2.5-fold higher than for the wild-type Cry3 toxin. Similar binding assays with C.
scripta BBMV revealed a ca 5-fold lower dissociation rate for the A1 mutant as compared to that of Cry3A.
Citation
Wu, Sheng-Jiun; Koller, Noah C.; Miller, Deborah L.; Bauer, Leah S.; Dean, Donald H. 2000. Enhanced toxicity of
Bacikkus thuringiensis Cry3A 8-endotoxin in coleopterans by mutagenesis in recetor binding loop. Federationof European Biochemical Societies (FEBS Letters). 473 : p. 227-232. (2000)