title: Binding properties of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry4A toxin to the apical microvilli of larval midgut of Culex pipiens.
abstract: Cry4A is a dipteran-specific delta-endotoxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis, and toxic to Culex pipiens (mosquito) larvae. The immunohistochemical staining of the midgut sections of C. pipiens larvae revealed that Cry4A bound in vitro and in vivo to the microvilli of the epithelial cells of posterior midgut and gastric caecae. The binding of digoxigenin-labeled Cry4A (DIG-Cry4A) to the apical microvilli was almost abolished in the presence of excess unlabeled Cry4A, suggesting that the binding of Cry4A to the microvilli was specific. Several Cry4A-specific binding proteins were detected using the ligand blotting technique with DIG-Cry4A. Moreover, an insertion assay was done, where the binding of DIG-Cry4A to the BBMVs was completely irreversible and did not compete with excess unlabeled Cry4A. On the basis of these results, we propose a schematic interpretation for the binding process of Cry4A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Okayama University, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamagiwa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamauchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okegawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otake
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amachi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komano
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001665:Binding Sites; D003465:Culex / Q000378:metabolism*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism; D008871:Microvilli / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis