Expression of various biotin-binding proteins in transgenic tobacco confers resistance to potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (fam. Gelechiidae).
The high affinity biotin-binding proteins (BBPs) avidin and streptavidin are established insecticidal agents, effective against a range of insect pests. Earlier work showed that, when expressed in planta, full length avidin and a truncated form of streptavidin are highly insecticidal. More recently, a wide range of BBPs, found in diverse organisms or engineered for various biotechnological applications have been reported. However, their effectiveness as plant-based insecticides has not been established. Here we report in planta expression of three different genes, designed to produce BBP variant proteins in the vacuole. The first was mature full length chicken avidin, the second a circularly permuted dual chain chicken avidin, and the third was an avidin homologue, a native bradavidin from Bradyrhyzobium japonicum. All three proteins were expressed in Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). The transgenic tobacco lines were healthy, phenotypically normal and, when subjected to bioassay, resistant to the important cosmopolitan pest, potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella) larvae at concentrations of ~50 ppm.
Murray
Colleen
C
The New Zealand Institute of Plant and Food Research Ltd., Private Bag 11030, Manawatu Mail Centre, 4442, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Markwick
Ngaire P
NP
Kaji
Ryohei
R
Poulton
Joanne
J
Martin
Harry
H
Christeller
John T
JT
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001360:Avidin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000378:metabolism
D030161:Avian Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C017071:biotin-binding proteins; C501304:bradavidin protein, Bradyrhizobium japonicum; D001360:Avidin