title: Expression of Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin genes during vegetative growth.
abstract: Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin (crystal protein) genes are normally expressed only during sporulation. It is possible to produce crystal protein during vegetative growth by placing B. thuringiensis crystal protein genes downstream of a strong vegetative promoter. By removing a possible transcriptional terminator of the tetracycline resistance gene of pBC16 and inserting a multiple cloning site, delta-endotoxin genes can be cloned downstream from the tetracycline resistance gene promoter. This construct allows for readthrough transcription from the strong vegetative promoter. Crystal protein is then produced during vegetative growth as well as during sporulation in both B. thuringiensis and Bacillus megaterium. This construct also allows for production of delta-endotoxin in B. thuringiensis strains that do not normally produce delta-endotoxin because of a defect in sporulation.
authors.affiliation: Ecogen Inc., Langhorne, Pennsylvania 19047-1810.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mettus
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macaluso
mesh_terms: D001407:Bacillus / Q000235:genetics; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis