Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Aa fused to a cellulase-binding peptide shows increased toxicity against the longhorned beetle

Cry3 class toxins are used extensively for biological control of coleopteran larvae. We previously identified a peptide (PCx) from a phage display library that specifically binds Cx-cellulase from the midgut of Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky (Asian longhorn beetle) larvae. Here, we added a DNA fragment that encodes the peptide onto either end of the cry3Aa gene and tested the expressed PCx-Cry3Aa and Cry3Aa-PCx proteins for insecticidal activity in the longhorned beetle. An insect bioassay revealed that, compared with native Cry3Aa, the two modified Cry3Aa proteins had significantly higher lethality, with PCx-Cry3Aa exhibiting a mortality rate almost three times that of Cry3Aa. We also proposed that the increased lethality in larvae fed with PCx-Cry3Aa or Cry3Aa-PCx would be attributable to the binding of the toxin with Cx-cellulase, thereby increasing toxin retention in the midgut. The significantly enhanced insecticidal activity of Cry3Aa fused with the Cx-cellulase binding peptide provides a new strategy for increasing toxin efficacy against the longhorned beetle. These uniquely modified Cry3Aa proteins have potential use for pest control.