title: Pore formation by Cry toxins.
abstract: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria produce insecticidal Cry and Cyt proteins used in the biological control of different insect pests. In this review, we will focus on the 3d-Cry toxins that represent the biggest group of Cry proteins and also on Cyt toxins. The 3d-Cry toxins are pore-forming toxins that induce cell death by forming ionic pores into the membrane of the midgut epithelial cells in their target insect. The initial steps in the mode of action include ingestion of the protoxin, activation by midgut proteases to produce the toxin fragment and the interaction with the primary cadherin receptor. The interaction of the monomeric CrylA toxin with the cadherin receptor promotes an extra proteolytic cleavage, where helix alpha-1 of domain I is eliminated and the toxin oligomerization is induced, forming a structure of 250 kDa. The oligomeric structure binds to a secondary receptor, aminopeptidase N or alkaline phosphatase. The secondary receptor drives the toxin into detergent resistant membrane microdomains formingpores that cause osmotic shock, burst of the midgut cells and insect death. Regarding to Cyt toxins, these proteins have a synergistic effect on the toxicity of some Cry toxins. Cyt proteins are also proteolytic activated in the midgut lumen of their target, they bind to some phospholipids present in the mosquito midgut cells. The proposed mechanism of synergism between Cry and Cyt toxins is that Cyt1Aa function as a receptor for Cry toxins. The Cyt1A inserts into midgut epithelium membrane and exposes protein regions that are recognized by Cry11Aa. It was demonstrated that this interaction facilitates the oligomerization of Cry11Aa and also its pore formation activity.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soberón
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muñóz-Garay
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bravo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007313:Insecta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D011498:Protein Precursors; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C095416:Cry toxin receptors; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D007306:Insecticides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis