title: Molecular cloning of the delta-endotoxin gene of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis.
abstract: A transformant of Bacillus megaterium, VB131, was isolated which carries a 6.3-kb XbaI segment of the crystal toxin gene of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (BTI) cloned in a vector plasmid pBC16 to yield pVB131. The chimeric plasmid DNA from VB131 was introduced into a transformable Bacillus subtilis strain by competence transformation. Both the B. megaterium VB131 strain and the B. subtilis strain harboring the chimeric plasmid produced irregular, parasporal, phase-refractile, crystalline inclusions (Cry+) during sporulation. The sporulated cells as well as the isolated crystal inclusions of the pVB131-containing B. megaterium and B. subtilis strains were highly toxic to the larvae of Aedes aegypti. Also, the solubilized crystal protein preparation from VB131[pVB131] showed clear immuno cross-reaction with antiserum to the BTI crystal toxin. 32P-labeled pVB131 plasmid DNA showed specific hybridization with a 112-kb plasmid DNA of Cry+ strains of BTI, and no hybridization with other plasmid or chromosomal DNA of either Cry+ or Cry- variants. These results are in agreement with our previous findings (González and Carlton, 1984) that the 112-kb plasmid of BTI is associated with the production of the crystal toxin.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sekar
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Carlton
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000235:genetics; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics*; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001681:Biological Assay; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis