Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2012) 78, 6466-6474

Hui Yang, Pinshu Wang, Qi Peng, Rong Rong, Chunxia Liu, Didier Lereclus, Jie Zhang, Fuping Song and Dafang Huang (2012)
Weak transcription of the cry1Ac gene in nonsporulating Bacillus thuringiensis cells
Applied and Environmental Microbiology 78 (18), 6466-6474
Abstract: The cry1Ac gene of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73 (B. thuringiensis HD-73) is a typical example of a sporulation-dependent crystal gene and is controlled by sigma E and sigma K during sporulation. To monitor the production and accumulation of Cry1Ac at the cellular level, we developed a green fluorescent protein-based reporter system. The production of Cry1Ac was monitored in spo0A, sigE, and sigK mutants, and these mutants were able to express the Cry1Ac-green fluorescent protein fusion protein. In nonsporulating B. thuringiensis HD-73 cells, low-level expression of cry1Ac was also observed. Reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting results confirmed that the cry1Ac promoter has low activity in nonsporulating B. thuringiensis cells. A beta-galactosidase assay demonstrated that the transcription of the cry1Ac gene during exponential and transition phases is positively regulated by Spo0A. Additional bioassay results indicated that spo0A and sigE mutants containing the cry1Ac-gfp fusion exhibited insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella larvae.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jie Zhang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
molecular biology - genes

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Plutella xylostella
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A-toxin (entomopathogen)	Plutella xylostella