title: Anti-cancer Parasporin Toxins are Associated with Different Environments: Discovery of Two Novel Parasporin 5-like Genes.
abstract: Cry toxins are primarily a family of insecticidal toxins produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). However, some Cry toxins, called parasporins (PSs), are non-insecticidal and have been shown to differentially kill human cancer cells. Based on amino acid homology, there are currently six different classes of parasporins (PS1-6). It is not known what role parasporins play in nature, nor if certain PSs are associated with Bt found in particular environments. Herein, we present ten parasporin-containing isolates of Bt from the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Genes coding for PS1 and PS6 were found in isolates associated mainly with artificial aquatic environments (e.g., barrels with rain water), while Bt possessing two novel PS5-like genes (ps5-1 and ps5-2), were isolated from manure collected directly from the rectum of cattle. The amino acid sequences inferred from the two PS5-like genes were 51 % homologous to each other, while being only 41 or 45 % similar to PS5Aa1/Cry64Aa, the only reported member of the parasporin five class. The low level of amino acid homology between the two PS5-like genes and PS5Aa1 indicate that the two PS5-like genes may represent a new class of parasporins, or greatly expand the level of diversity within the current parasporin 5 class.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Ammons
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio-Regional Academic Health Center, 1214 W. Schunior, Edinburg, TX, 78541, USA.|Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Short
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hinojosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tavarez
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA. joanne.rampersadammons@utrgv.edu.
authors.forename: Joanne N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Rampersad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008372:Manure / Q000382:microbiology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004731:Endotoxins; D008372:Manure; C412914:parasporin