转抗虫基因植物对蜜蜂的影响

苏云金杆菌 (Bacillusthuringiensis,Bt)毒蛋白基因、蛋白酶抑制剂基因是广泛用于植物抗虫基因工程的两大类基因。Bt毒蛋白对蜜蜂没有明显毒害作用 ,但对草蛉、瓢虫等有益昆虫的繁殖、发育具有不良影响 ,而且在花粉中表达 ,因此转Bt基因植物对蜜蜂的影响有待于进一步研究。蛋白酶抑制剂浓度高时 ,对蜜蜂具有明显的毒害作用。随着基因工程技术的发展 ,蛋白酶抑制剂基因表达水平的提高 ,转基因植物必将对蜜蜂产生一些不良影响。蜜蜂仅取食植物的花蜜和花粉 ,可以采用不同的启动子 ,使抗虫基因只在害虫取食部位表达 ,而在花蜜和花粉中不表达 ,以确保既能抗虫 ,又对蜜蜂安全

Influences of transgenic insect resistant plants on honeybees.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin protein genes and proteinase inhibitor (PI) genes are two kinds of genes widely used in gene engineering of insect resistant plants. Bt toxin protein has no toxic effects on honeybees, but it has deleterious effects on development and fecundity of certain beneficial insects, such as Chrysopa and Hippodamia and so on; it can be expressed in pollen. So the influences of Bt transgenic gene plants on honeybees need to be studied. High concentration of PI has deleterious effects on honeybees. With the development of gene engineering techniques, the expressed level of PI is gradually increased, so harmful effects of PI transgenic plants on honeybees must not be ignored. Honeybees only feed on nectar and pollen, thus we may use tissue and time specific promoter, and then make insect resistant genes express in tissues eaten by pests, not express in pollen. The prospect for developing transgenic plants resistant to pests and safe for honeybees seems bright.