title: Ion channels induced in planar lipid bilayers by the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry1Aa in the presence of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) brush border membrane.
abstract: The apical brush border membrane, the main target site of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins, was isolated from gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larval midguts and fused to artificial planar lipid bilayer membranes. Under asymmetrical N-methyl-d-glucamine-HCl conditions (450 mm cis/150 mm trans, pH 9.0), which significantly reduce endogenous channel activity, trypsin-activated Cry1Aa, a B. thuringiensis insecticidal protein active against the gypsy moth in vivo, induced a large increase in bilayer membrane conductance at much lower concentrations (1.1-2.15 nm) than in receptor-free bilayer membranes. At least 5 main single-channel transitions with conductances ranging from 85 to 420 pS were resolved. These Cry1Aa channels share similar ionic selectivity with P(Cl)/P(NMDG) permeability ratios ranging from 4 to 8. They show no evidence of current rectification. Analysis of the macroscopic current flowing through the composite bilayer suggested voltage-dependence of several channels. In comparison, the conductance of the pores formed by 100-500 nm Cry1Aa in receptor-free bilayer membranes was significantly smaller (about 8-fold) and their P(Cl)/P(NMDG) permeability ratios were also reduced (2- to 4-fold). This study provides a detailed demonstration that the target insect midgut brush border membrane material promotes considerably pore formation by a B. thuringiensis Cry toxin and that this interaction results in altered channel properties.
authors.affiliation: Groupe de Recherche en Transport Membranaire, Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Centre Ville Station, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Peyronnet
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vachon
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laprade
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008871:Microvilli / Q000378:metabolism*; D009036:Moths; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C095416:Cry toxin receptors; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis