Only part of the protoxin gene of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. berliner 1715 is necessary for insecticidal activity.

Escherichia coli strains harboring deletion mutations of the insecticidal protoxin gene of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. berliner 1715 were constructed. Although these strains did not produce intact protoxin, cell extracts from one of the mutants were extremely toxic to tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) larvae, indicating that only a part of the protoxin gene is required for insecticidal activity.