Positive cooperativity among insecticidal scorpion neurotoxins.
The insecticidal activity of scorpion neurotoxic polypeptides increased 5-10-fold with no apparent increase in mammalian toxicity when a combination of two toxins was injected. Synergistic combinations could be predicted from binding studies and competitive displacement assays. Our results indicate that simultaneous expression in baculovirus or other transgenic organisms of the synergistic combinations of insecticidal toxins may result in more potent insect-selective biopesticides.
Herrmann
R
R
Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Moskowitz
H
H
Zlotkin
E
E
Hammock
B D
BD
D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010574:Pesticide Synergists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012605:Scorpions; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*
D009498:Neurotoxins; D010574:Pesticide Synergists; D013111:Spider Venoms