title: Transcriptional analysis of the toxin-coding plasmid pBtoxis from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis.
abstract: In Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis all of the insecticidal toxins are encoded on a single, large plasmid, pBtoxis. Sequencing of this plasmid revealed 125 potential coding sequences, many of which have predicted functions in gene regulation and physiological processes, such as germination. As a first step in understanding the possible role of pBtoxis in its host bacterium, a survey of the transcription of genes with predicted functions was carried out. Whereas many coding sequences, including those previously identified as probable pseudogenes, were not transcribed, mRNA was detected for 29 of the 40 sequences surveyed. Several of these sequences, including eight with similarities to the sequences of known transcriptional regulators, may influence wider gene regulation and thus may alter the phenotype of the host bacterium.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3US, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Gareth W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chalmers
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis