Formation of macromolecule complex with Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A toxins and chlorophyllide binding 252-kDa lipocalin-like protein locating on Bombyx mori midgut membrane

J Membr Biol. 2010 Oct;237(2-3):125-36. doi: 10.1007/s00232-010-9314-x. Epub 2010 Nov 16.

Abstract

P252, a 252-kDa Bombyx mori protein located on the larval midgut membrane, has been shown to bind strongly with Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A toxins (Hossain et al. Appl Environ Microbiol 70:4604-4612, 2004). P252 was also shown to bind chlorophyllide (Chlide) to form red fluorescence-emitting complex Bm252RFP with significant antimicrobial activity (Pandian et al. Appl Environ Microbiol 74:1324-1331, 2008). In this article, we show that Cry1A toxin bound with Bm252RFP and Bm252RFP-Cry1A macrocomplex, with both antimicrobial and insecticidal activities, was formed. The insecticidal activity of Bm252RFP-Cry1Ab was reduced from an LD₅₀ of 1.62 to 5.05 μg, but Bm252RFP-Cry1Aa and Bm252RFP-Cry1Ac did not show such reduction. On the other hand, the antimicrobial activity of Bm252RFP-Cry1Ab was shown to retain almost the same activity as Bm252RFP, while the other two complexes lost around 30% activity. The intensity of photo absorbance and fluorescence emission of Bm252RFP-Cry1Ab were significantly reduced compared to those of the other two complexes. Circular dichroism showed that the contents of Cry1Ab α-helix was significantly decreased in Bm252RFP-Cry1Ab but not in the other two toxins. These data suggested that the reduction of contents of α-helix in Cry1Ab affected the insecticidal activity of the macrocomplex but did not alter the antimicrobial moiety in the macrocomplex of Bm252RFP-Cry1Ab.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / pharmacology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bombyx / drug effects*
  • Bombyx / metabolism*
  • Chlorophyllides / metabolism*
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Endotoxins / metabolism
  • Endotoxins / pharmacology
  • Hemolysin Proteins / metabolism
  • Hemolysin Proteins / pharmacology
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism*
  • Insecticides / metabolism
  • Insecticides / pharmacology*
  • Lipocalins / metabolism*

Substances

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