Cry1Ac和Cry2Ab杀虫蛋白对粘虫幼虫生长发育的影响

【目的】为探究Bt杀虫蛋白对次要靶标害虫粘虫Mythimna separata (Walker)(鳞翅目:夜蛾科)的杀虫活性及对其生长发育的影响。【方法】本文通过浸叶法饲喂初孵及2龄末粘虫不同剂量的Cry1Ac及Cry2Ab杀虫蛋白后,观察其死亡率,称量幼虫重,并统计了幼虫历期、化蛹率、蛹重、蛹期、蛹的羽化率、畸形率等指标。【结果】初孵幼虫取食浸泡含16、64、128μg/mLCry1Ac及Cry2Ab的玉米叶片后,随着时间的延长及浓度的增加,死亡率逐渐增加,且Cry1Ac杀虫蛋白对粘虫的生物活性高于Cry2Ab蛋白,在128μg/mL浓度下,取食Cry1Ac和Cry2Ab蛋白13d时的死亡率分别达到了65%及60%。取食两种蛋白后,初孵幼虫和2龄末幼虫重量均受到显著抑制,短期取食两种蛋白对幼虫历期、化蛹率、蛹重、蛹期、蛹的羽化率、畸形率没有影响。【结论】取食Cry1Ac和Cry2Ab杀虫蛋白后,对初孵幼虫有很好的杀虫活性,且Cry1Ac杀虫活性高于Cry2Ab杀虫蛋白;短期饲喂两种杀虫蛋白时,对2龄粘虫后期生长影响不大。本文结果为转Bt基因作物更好的应用于粘虫的防治提供了理论基础。     

Cry1Ah蛋白标准物质候选物的制备与纯化

随着转基因技术的迅猛发展,转基因产品的安全性受到了广泛关注。转基因检测用有证标准物质在确保转基因产品定性、定量检测结果的可比性和可追溯性方面发挥着重要作用。但转基因蛋白质标准物质的开发相对缓慢,其中一个难点是制备高纯度的转基因蛋白质候选物。苏云金芽胞杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis cry1Ah1基因因其对亚洲玉米螟等鳞翅目害虫有很好的杀虫活性,已用于转基因抗虫作物的研制,并获得具有较好抗虫性状的转基因株系。为了研发Cry1Ah蛋白有证标准物质,亟需建立其制备及纯化体系。文中优化了利用Bt表达系统制备Cry1Ah蛋白的体系,利用离子交换色谱法和排阻色谱法逐级纯化的方法,获得了高纯度的Cry1Ah蛋白 (排阻色谱纯度：99.6%)。生物活性测定结果表明,纯化的Cry1Ah蛋白与原毒素对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella的杀虫活性没有显著差异。最后使用Edman降解法和质谱法确定了Cry1Ah蛋白活化后的氨基酸序列。综上所述,获得的Cry1Ah纯蛋白可用于蛋白质标准物质的研制。     

Cry2Ab及Cry1Ac杀虫蛋白对棉铃虫中肠蛋白酶活性的影响

为明确Cry2Ab和Cry1Ac2种Bt杀虫蛋白单用与混用对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera（Htibner）中肠主要蛋白酶活性的影响,本文测定了取食含不同Bt蛋白人工饲料后棉铃虫中肠总蛋白酶、类胰蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶活性的差异。结果发现：Cry2Ab处理12h后对棉铃虫中肠总蛋白酶影响不大;对类胰蛋白酶的影响最大,除最高浓度处理外,其他浓度处理后棉铃虫类胰蛋白酶的活性明显高于对照;但对类胰凝乳蛋白酶活性的影响呈倒“V”字型,只有6．67ug／gCry2Ab处理后的棉铃虫酶活力显著高于对照,其他浓度处理与对照差异不显著或略低于对照;随着取食含Cry2Ab饲料时间的增加,棉铃虫中肠类胰蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶的活性比对照显著增加;与对照相比,处理36h后类胰蛋白酶活性最高可增加到6．43倍。Cry1Ac处理棉铃虫12h后总蛋白酶、类胰蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶活性都明显增加,而且与处理浓度呈正相关;但是24h后,处理后棉铃虫的总蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶活性明显降低,只有类胰蛋白酶活性仍高于对照,但活性增长倍数低于12h时的处理。Cru2Ab和Cry1Ac2种蛋白混用处理棉铃虫后,2种酶的酶活力基本低于Cry1Ac和Cry2Ab单用的酶活力之和;只有2种蛋白浓度均为2．22ug／g混用时,处理12h后类胰蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶的活性高于2种蛋白单用时酶活力之和,且都显著的高于对照。     

Cry1Ah蛋白标准物质候选物的制备与纯化（英文）

随着转基因技术的迅猛发展,转基因产品的安全性受到了广泛关注。转基因检测用有证标准物质在确保转基因产品定性、定量检测结果的可比性和可追溯性方面发挥着重要作用。但转基因蛋白质标准物质的开发相对缓慢,其中一个难点是制备高纯度的转基因蛋白质候选物。苏云金芽胞杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis cry1Ah1基因因其对亚洲玉米螟等鳞翅目害虫有很好的杀虫活性,已用于转基因抗虫作物的研制,并获得具有较好抗虫性状的转基因株系。为了研发Cry1Ah蛋白有证标准物质,亟需建立其制备及纯化体系。文中优化了利用Bt表达系统制备Cry1Ah蛋白的体系,利用离子交换色谱法和排阻色谱法逐级纯化的方法,获得了高纯度的Cry1Ah蛋白(排阻色谱纯度:99.6%)。生物活性测定结果表明,纯化的Cry1Ah蛋白与原毒素对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella的杀虫活性没有显著差异。最后使用Edman降解法和质谱法确定了Cry1Ah蛋白活化后的氨基酸序列。综上所述,获得的Cry1Ah纯蛋白可用于蛋白质标准物质的研制。     

Cry1A毒素与二化螟中肠刷状缘膜囊泡受体蛋白配基结合分析

分离和鉴定二化螟Chilo suppresalis幼虫中肠刷状缘膜囊泡（BBMV）中Cry1A毒素的受体蛋白,对于阐明Cry1A毒素作用机理和二化螟抗性机理具有十分重要的意义。为此,本文就Cry1A毒素对二化螟杀虫活性及Cry1Ac与二化螟中肠受体的配基结合进行了研究。结果表明: Cry1Ab对二化螟室内品系(CN)的毒力高于Cry1Ac,而Cry1Ac高于Cry1Aa。配基结合分析表明二化螟CN品系幼虫中肠BBMV中有6个Cry1Ac结合蛋白(分子量分别为50,70,90,120,160和180 kDa), 其中180,160和90 kDa结合蛋白的条带颜色明显深于其他结合蛋白的条带,表明这3个受体蛋白具有较高的结合浓度。同源竞争结合研究表明,180和90 kDa结合蛋白为Cry1Ac的低亲合性结合蛋白,其他4个为高亲合性结合蛋白。为了研究Cry1Ac和Cry1Ab受体结合部位的相互作用,进行了异源竞争结合研究。Cry1Ab可以与Cry1Ac所有的6个结合蛋白进行竞争性结合,与180,120,70和50 kDa结合蛋白具有高亲合性,而与160和90 kDa结合蛋白具有低亲合性。结果显示,Cry1Ac与Cry1Ab在二化螟幼虫中肠BBMV上拥有多个共享的结合位点,但对每个结合位点的亲合性有差异。基于毒素结合部位的相似性,Cry1Ac和Cry1Ab不宜同时用于转基因Bt水稻来控制二化螟。     

草地贪夜蛾取食Cry1Ab和Cry1Fa蛋白后中肠转录组及ABC基因表达分析

【目的】为揭示草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera furgiperda幼虫取食Bt蛋白后与中肠上相关ATP结合盒转运子(ATP-binding cassette transporter, ABC)蛋白基因的表达量变化的关系。【方法】分别使用含活化晶体蛋白Cry1Ab (LC₇₀=240.2 μg/g)和Cry1Fa (LC₇₀=270.0 μg/g)蛋白的人工饲料饲喂草地贪夜蛾4龄幼虫48 h,利用高通量测序对中肠进行转录组测序并进行生物信息学分析,筛选处理后差异表达基因;利用RT-qPCR验证差异表达ABC基因的表达量。【结果】与饲喂正常人工饲料的对照相比,饲喂含240.2 μg/g Cry1Ab和270.0 μg/g Cry1Fa的人工饲料后草地贪夜蛾4龄幼虫中肠转录组中分别检测到1 305和1 202个差异表达基因。Cry1Ab和Cry1Fa处理组与对照组之间分别有994和912个差异表达基因被GO功能注释到生物学过程、分子功能和细胞组分三大类。在最终筛选到的9个差异表达的ABC家族基因中,Cry1Ab处理组与对照组之间有4个差异表达ABC基因,3个上调,1个下调; Cry1Fa处理组与对照组之间有5个差异表达ABC基因,2个上调,3个下调;Cry1Ab和Cry1Fa处理组与对照组之间有2个ABC基因(LOC118267200和LOC118267201)表达量均显著上调。RT-qPCR验证结果表明,与对照组相比,Cry1Ab处理组有3个ABC基因表达量极显著上调,2个ABC基因表达量下调;Cry1Fa处理组有5个ABC基因表达量上调,1个ABC基因表达量下调。【结论】Cry1Ab和Cry1Fa蛋白的摄入可以影响草地贪夜蛾幼虫中肠一些ABC家族基因的表达量变化,这些基因的表达量变化与昆虫抗性产生有关。经比对后发现,ABCC家族与ABCG8基因表达量变化显著。本研究为下一步明确草地贪夜蛾体内ABC转运蛋白在Bt蛋白杀虫机制中的作用,以及合理使用Bt蛋白防治草地贪夜蛾及延缓抗性提供了理论依据。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白Cry1Ba结构域Ⅱ中Loops结构与功能关系研究

为了明确杀虫晶体蛋白中各个Loop的结构与功能的关系,以及Loop突变对Cry1Ba蛋白杀虫活性的影响,首先通过三维结构模拟以及同源序列分析的方法,找到Cry1Ba蛋白三个结构域及三个Loop相对应的氨基酸片段:然后通过重叠引物PCR将编码Cry1Ba蛋白结构域Ⅱ中的三个Loop进行了相应的突变,共获得了5个突变体M1(Loop1:340WSNTR344-缺失(Cry1A))、M2(Loop2:402Y-G)、M3(Loop2:400GIYLEP405-PSAV(Cry3A)),M4(400GIYLEPIH407-ILGS(Cry1A)),M5(Loop3:472LQSRV476-AGAVYTL(Cry1A)).将这些突变体在大肠杆菌BL21中进行了诱导表达,提取蛋白,分别对小菜蛾进行了生物活性测定.生测结果表明,Loop1的缺失突变M1的毒力,与Cry1Ba(LC50 0.96μg/mL)相比,显著降低,LC50为35.51 μg/mL;在Loop2的突变中,单个氨基酸的突变M2(Y/G)的毒力略有下降(LC50为1.31 μg/mL);而另两种突变(M3和M4)时小菜蛾的毒力明显下降,LC50值分别为11.56 μg/mL、34.81 μg/mL;Loop3的突变M5对小菜蛾的毒力略有提高(LC50 0.81 μg/mL),但差异不显著.对Cry1Ba蛋白突变前后结构与功能之间关系的分析结果表明,Loop区突变对Cry1Ba蛋白的结构和功能影响非常显著;Loop1和Loop2在决定Cry1Ba对小菜蛾的毒性方面起着重要作用.     

Cry毒素杀虫活性分子改造方法研究进展

苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)产生的Cry毒素为防治害虫提供了一种宝贵的资源。但昆虫中肠蛋白酶的活化作用在不同的昆虫中对Cry毒素的杀虫活性有限制性。分析了几种不同的策略来增加Cry毒素对靶标昆虫的毒性,包括结构域Ⅲ交换、结构域Ⅱ和结构域Ⅲ的突变以及其他突变。此外,还详细阐述了噬菌体展示技术进行毒素优化的方法,毒素优化能够增加Cry毒素对亲本Cry毒素敏感度较低的害虫的杀虫活性,以期为Cry毒素的分子改造和应用提供参考。     

转cry1Ab/cry1Ac基因玉米Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac融合蛋白表达及对亚洲玉米螟的室内杀虫效果

【目的】室内抗螟性评价是转Bt基因抗虫玉米研发和安全性评价的重要环节。【方法】采用酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)测定了转cry1Ab/cry1Ac基因玉米ZZM030心叶中Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac融合杀虫蛋白的表达量;采用室内生测法测定了分别取食转基因玉米ZZM030和非转基因玉米X249心叶后亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis敏感品系ACB-BtS、Cry1Ab抗性品系ACB-AbR和Cry1Ac抗性品系ACB-AcR初孵幼虫的存活率。【结果】转基因抗虫玉米ZZM030 4叶期和8叶期心叶中Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac融合杀虫蛋白的表达量分别是10.62和2.94 μg/g FW。敏感品系亚洲玉米螟初孵幼虫取食转基因玉米ZZM030心叶2 d的存活率仅为23.6%,4 d后存活率为0,而取食非转基因对照玉米X249心叶4 d的存活率高达93.1%。Cry1Ab抗性品系和Cry1Ac抗性品系初孵幼虫取食转基因玉米ZZM030心叶6 d后的存活率分别为11.1%和12.5%,而取食非转基因玉米X249心叶6 d后的存活率分别为81.9%和77.8%。【结论】转cry1Ab/cry1Ac基因玉米ZZM030心叶中高表达的Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac融合蛋白对亚洲玉米螟初孵幼虫具有极高的杀虫效果。     

苏云金芽孢杆菌Cry1Aa和Cry1Ca结构域交换对晶体形态和杀虫活性影响

通过体外重组的方法,实现了苏云金芽孢杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白Cry1Aa和Cry1Ca的功能性结构域Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲ的互换,得到了6株苏云金杆菌重组菌株BT-ACC,BT-AAC,BT-ACA,BT-CAA,BT-CCA和BT-CAC。SDS-PAGE和Westernblot分析表明,重组菌株BT-CAA和BT-CCA能表达产生135kDa左右的杂交晶体蛋白Cry1CAA和Cry1CCA,但其蛋白表达量较野生型Cry1Aa和Cry1Ca低。用牛胰蛋白酶对杂交晶体蛋白Cry1CAA、Cry1CCA及野生型Cry1Aa和Cry1Ca进行消化,证明所有晶体蛋白都能产生65kDa的活性毒素。电镜观察发现,野生菌株BT-Cry1Aa和BT-Cry1Ca形成典型的菱形晶体,而重组菌株BT-CCA和BT-CAA则形成球形或颗粒状杂交晶体。纯化晶体的生物测定显示,杂交晶体蛋白Cry1CAA和Cry1CCA对甜菜夜蛾的毒力比野生型晶体蛋白降低3~5倍,对棉铃虫的毒力比野生型晶体蛋白降低了190~260倍。研究结果表明,苏云金杆菌晶体蛋白不同结构域的相互作用会影响杂交晶体蛋白的表达、晶体形态和杀虫活性。     

Bio‐safety evaluation of Cry1Ac,Cry2Ab,Cry1Ca,Cry1F and Vip3Aa on Harmonia axyridis larvae

Dietary exposure studies are initial steps in environmental risk assessments of genetically engineered plants on non‐target organisms. These studies are conducted in the laboratory where surrogate species are exposed to purified and biologically active insecticidal compounds at higher concentrations than those expected to occur in transgenic crops foliage. Thus, dietary exposure (early tier) tests provide robust data needed to make general conclusions about the susceptibility of the surrogate species to the test substance. For this, we developed suitable artificial diet and used it to establish a dietary exposure test for assessing the toxicity of midgut‐active insecticidal compounds to the larvae of the Asian ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Using boric acid as a model compound, we validated the bioassay established for H. axyridis larvae. An artificial diet containing boric acid which negatively affected survival, development and adult weights was offered to larvae and indicated that the bioassay was able to detect toxic effects of insecticidal substances incorporated in diets. Using this dietary exposure test, environmental risk assessment of Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab, Cry1Ca, Cry1F and the non‐Cry protein Vip3Aa was evaluated by analysing pupation rates, adult emergence rates, 7‐day larval weights, and freshly emerged male and female weights among the toxin treatments and a pure artificial diet. These life‐table parameters did not vary among artificial diets containing 200 μg/g Bt proteins or pure artificial diet. In contrast, boric acid adversely affected all life‐table parameters. Thus on these bases, we concluded H. axyridis larvae are not sensitive to these Bt proteins expressed in genetically engineered crops.     

Shared Midgut Binding Sites for Cry1A.105, Cry1Aa,Cry1Ab,Cry1Ac and Cry1Fa Proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis in Two Important Corn Pests,Ostrinia nubilalis and Spodoptera frugiperda

First generation of insect-protected transgenic corn (Bt-corn) was based on the expression of Cry1Ab or Cry1Fa proteins. Currently, the trend is the combination of two or more genes expressing proteins that bind to different targets. In addition to broadening the spectrum of action, this strategy helps to delay the evolution of resistance in exposed insect populations. One of such examples is the combination of Cry1A.105 with Cry1Fa and Cry2Ab to control O. nubilalis and S. frugiperda. Cry1A.105 is a chimeric protein with domains I and II and the C-terminal half of the protein from Cry1Ac, and domain III almost identical to Cry1Fa. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the chimeric Cry1A.105 has shared binding sites either with Cry1A proteins, with Cry1Fa, or with both, in O. nubilalis and in S. frugiperda. Brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from last instar larval midguts were used in competition binding assays with ¹²⁵I-labeled Cry1A.105, Cry1Ab, and Cry1Fa, and unlabeled Cry1A.105, Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1Fa, Cry2Ab and Cry2Ae. The results showed that Cry1A.105, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac and Cry1Fa competed with high affinity for the same binding sites in both insect species. However, Cry2Ab and Cry2Ae did not compete for the binding sites of Cry1 proteins. Therefore, according to our results, the development of cross-resistance among Cry1Ab/Ac, Cry1A.105, and Cry1Fa proteins is possible in these two insect species if the alteration of shared binding sites occurs. Conversely, cross-resistance between these proteins and Cry2A proteins is very unlikely in such case.     

Transgenic broccoli with high levels of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1C protein control diamondback moth larvae resistant to Cry1A or Cry1C

A synthetic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cry1C gene was introduced into broccoli (Brassica oleracea ssp. italica) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Twenty-one Cry1C transgenic plants were regenerated from 400 hypocotyl and petiole explants. Variable amounts of stable steady- state cry1C mRNA accumulated in different transgenic plants. Cry1C protein (up to 0.4% of total soluble protein) was produced in correlation with the cry1C mRNA levels. Leaf section and whole-plant bioassays were done using diamondback moth (DBM) larvae from lines susceptible to Bt or resistant to Cry1A or Cry1C proteins (Cry1AR or Cry1CR, respectively). Plants with high levels of Cry1C protein caused rapid and complete mortality of all three types of DBM larvae with no defoliation. Plants with lower levels of Cry1C protein showed an increasing differential between control of susceptible of Cry1AR DBM. This study demonstrated that high production of Cry1C protein can protect transgenic broccoli not only from susceptible or Cry1AR DBM larvae but also from DBM selected for moderate levels of resistance of Cry1C. The Cry1C- transgenic broccoli were also resistant to two other lepidopteran pests of crucifers (cabbage looper and imported cabbage worm). These plants will be useful in studies of resistance management strategies involving multiple transgenes. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Shared Binding Sites in Lepidoptera for Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ja and Cry1A Toxins

Bacillus thuringiensis toxins act by binding to specific target sites in the insect midgut epithelial membrane. The best-known mechanism of resistance to B. thuringiensis toxins is reduced binding to target sites. Because alteration of a binding site shared by several toxins may cause resistance to all of them, knowledge of which toxins share binding sites is useful for predicting cross-resistance. Conversely, cross-resistance among toxins suggests that the toxins share a binding site. At least two strains of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) with resistance to Cry1A toxins and reduced binding of Cry1A toxins have strong cross-resistance to Cry1Ja. Thus, we hypothesized that Cry1Ja shares binding sites with Cry1A toxins. We tested this hypothesis in six moth and butterfly species, each from a different family: Cacyreus marshalli (Lycaenidae), Lobesia botrana (Tortricidae), Manduca sexta (Sphingidae), Pectinophora gossypiella (Gelechiidae), P. xylostella (Plutellidae), and Spodoptera exigua (Noctuidae). Although the extent of competition varied among species, experiments with biotinylated Cry1Ja and radiolabeled Cry1Ac showed that Cry1Ja and Cry1Ac competed for binding sites in all six species. A recent report also indicates shared binding sites for Cry1Ja and Cry1A toxins in Heliothis virescens (Noctuidae). Thus, shared binding sites for Cry1Ja and Cry1A occur in all lepidopteran species tested so far.     

Common Receptor for Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins Cry1Ac, Cry1Fa, and Cry1Ja in Helicoverpa armigera, Helicoverpa zea, and Spodoptera exigua

Binding studies using ¹²⁵I-Cry1Ac and biotinylated Cry1Fa toxins indicate the occurrence of a common receptor for Cry1Ac, Cry1Fa, and Cry1Ja in Helicoverpa armigera, Helicoverpa zea, and Spodoptera exigua. Our results, along with previous binding data and the observed cases of cross-resistance, suggest that this pattern seems to be widespread among lepidopteran species.     

Interval timing is intact in arrhythmic Cry1/Cry2-deficient mice

Localizing the self in time is fundamental for daily life functioning and is lacking in severe disabling neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. Brains keep track of time across an impressive range of scales. Great progress has been made in identifying the molecular machinery of the circadian clock, the brain's master clock that operates on the 24-hour scale and allows animals to know the "time of the day" that important events occur, without referring to external cues. However, the biology of interval timing, the mechanism responsible for durations in the seconds-to-minutes-to-hours range, remains a mystery, and an obvious question is whether there is a common biological solution for keeping track of time across these 2 time scales. To address this, we trained Cry1/Cry2 double knockout mice on an interval timing task with durations that ranged between 3 and 27 seconds. The mice were kept under constant light conditions to avoid any exogenously induced form of daily rhythmicity. We observed that the homozygous knockouts displayed as accurate and precise a temporal memory as the control mice. This suggests that the Cry1 and Cry2 genes are not an important component of the interval timer. Furthermore, proper calibration of the interval timer does not depend on a functional circadian clock. Thus, these 2 timing systems likely rely on different and independent biological mechanisms.     

Bt Crops Producing Cry1Ac,Cry2Ab and Cry1F Do Not Harm the Green Lacewing,Chrysoperla rufilabris

The biological control function provided by natural enemies is regarded as a protection goal that should not be harmed by the application of any new pest management tool. Plants producing Cry proteins from the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), have become a major tactic for controlling pest Lepidoptera on cotton and maize and risk assessment studies are needed to ensure they do not harm important natural enemies. However, using Cry protein susceptible hosts as prey often compromises such studies. To avoid this problem we utilized pest Lepidoptera, cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), that were resistant to Cry1Ac produced in Bt broccoli (T. ni), Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab produced in Bt cotton (T. ni), and Cry1F produced in Bt maize (S. frugiperda). Larvae of these species were fed Bt plants or non-Bt plants and then exposed to predaceous larvae of the green lacewing Chrysoperla rufilabris. Fitness parameters (larval survival, development time, fecundity and egg hatch) of C. rufilabris were assessed over two generations. There were no differences in any of the fitness parameters regardless if C. rufilabris consumed prey (T. ni or S. frugiperda) that had consumed Bt or non-Bt plants. Additional studies confirmed that the prey contained bioactive Cry proteins when they were consumed by the predator. These studies confirm that Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab and Cry1F do not pose a hazard to the important predator C. rufilabris. This study also demonstrates the power of using resistant hosts when assessing the risk of genetically modified plants on non-target organisms.     

Shared binding sites in Lepidoptera for Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ja and Cry1A toxins.

Bacillus thuringiensis toxins act by binding to specific target sites in the insect midgut epithelial membrane. The best-known mechanism of resistance to B. thuringiensis toxins is reduced binding to target sites. Because alteration of a binding site shared by several toxins may cause resistance to all of them, knowledge of which toxins share binding sites is useful for predicting cross-resistance. Conversely, cross-resistance among toxins suggests that the toxins share a binding site. At least two strains of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) with resistance to Cry1A toxins and reduced binding of Cry1A toxins have strong cross-resistance to Cry1Ja. Thus, we hypothesized that Cry1Ja shares binding sites with Cry1A toxins. We tested this hypothesis in six moth and butterfly species, each from a different family: Cacyreus marshalli (Lycaenidae), Lobesia botrana (Tortricidae), Manduca sexta (Sphingidae), Pectinophora gossypiella (Gelechiidae), P. xylostella (Plutellidae), and Spodoptera exigua (Noctuidae). Although the extent of competition varied among species, experiments with biotinylated Cry1Ja and radiolabeled Cry1Ac showed that Cry1Ja and Cry1Ac competed for binding sites in all six species. A recent report also indicates shared binding sites for Cry1Ja and Cry1A toxins in Heliothis virescens (Noctuidae). Thus, shared binding sites for Cry1Ja and Cry1A occur in all lepidopteran species tested so far.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌的特异性结合蛋白研究

用3 2 P分别标记 3 0 8bpcry1A上游和 65 0bpcry1C上游片段 ,并将标记后的DNA与不同苏云金芽孢杆菌菌株的细胞粗蛋白进行凝胶阻滞反应。结果表明 ,cry1A和cry1C上游均能被苏云金芽孢杆菌库斯塔克亚种 (Bacillusthuringinensis subsp .kurstaki)的细胞粗蛋白特异性结合 ,而同一cry1基因上游序列可被不同多肽特异或非特异性竞争结合 ,不同的cry1基因上游序列也能同时被一种蛋白结合。说明苏云金芽孢杆菌某些特异细胞蛋白参与了cry1基因上游序列的转录调控作用 ,而不同的调节因子可能会竞争同一结合位点。库斯塔克亚种和鲇泽亚种 (B .thuringinensis subsp .aizawai)所含特异细胞蛋白在种类和作用上都有差异。