title: Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis delta-endotoxin. Nucleotide sequence and characterization of the transcripts in Bacillus thuringiensis and Escherichia coli.
abstract: The nucleotide sequence of a 1408 base-pair DNA fragment encoding the insecticidal 27,340 Mr delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis has been determined by analysis of a recombinant plasmid from Escherichia coli. The hydropathy plot of the protein shows it to be highly hydrophobic, consistent with a postulated cytolytic mechanism of action for the toxin. In addition, the delta-endotoxin transcriptional start points that are used in B. thuringiensis and an E. coli recombinant have been determined. In B. thuringiensis var. israelensis, transcription initiates from a single start point, and gene-specific transcripts are not observed before stage II of sporulation. This is the stage at which delta-endotoxin antigen is first detected, indicating that control of expression is primarily at the transcriptional level for this protein. Analysis of gene-specific transcription in E. coli indicates that at least three start points are utilized in this organism. Interestingly, the highest level of delta-endotoxin mRNA is seen during mid-exponential growth of E. coli and the level appears to decrease as the cells enter the stationary phase of growth.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics*; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D007306:Insecticides; D010944:Plants; D010957:Plasmids; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D007306:Insecticides; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis