Cloning and characterization of two novel genes, cry24B and s1orf2, from a mosquitocidal strain of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar sotto

Curr Microbiol. 2005 Aug;51(2):131-6. doi: 10.1007/s00284-005-7529-3. Epub 2005 Jul 13.

Abstract

Two new crystal protein genes, cry24B and s1orf2, were cloned from a mosquitocidal Bacillus thuringiensis serovar sotto strain. The cry24B and s1orf2 genes encoded a 76-kDa and 62-kDa protein, respectively. The Cry24B protein retained five conserved regions commonly found in the existing Cry proteins. The amino acid sequence of the S1ORF2 had a high homology to that of the ORF2 protein of B. thuringiensis serovar jegathesan. Southern hybridization experiments with a cry24B gene-specific probe revealed that these genes are located on two large plasmids of > 100 kb. When the two genes, cry24B and s1orf2, were expressed in an acrystalliferous B. thuringiensis host, the proteins were synthesized and accumulated as inclusions. These inclusions exhibited no larvicidal activities against three mosquito species: Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex pipiens molestus. Likewise, the inclusions contained no cytocidal activity against HeLa cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anopheles / microbiology
  • Bacillus thuringiensis / chemistry
  • Bacillus thuringiensis / genetics*
  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Proteins / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Toxins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Toxins / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Toxins / pharmacology
  • Endotoxins / pharmacology
  • HeLa Cells
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Humans
  • Insecticides / pharmacology
  • Mosquito Control
  • Pest Control, Biological

Substances

  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Endotoxins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Insecticides
  • insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis