RESUMEN
Two new modified Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins, Cry1Da_7 and Cry1B.868, with activity against fall armyworms (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), were evaluated for their potential to bind new insect receptors compared to proteins currently deployed as plant-incorporated protectants (PIPs) in row crops. Results from resistant insect bioassays, disabled insecticidal protein (DIP) bioassays, and cell-based assays using insect cells expressing individual receptors demonstrate that receptor utilizations of the newly modified Cry1Da_7 and Cry1B.868 proteins are distinct from each other and from those of commercially available Bt proteins such as Cry1F, Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab, and Vip3A. Accordingly, these two proteins target different insect proteins in FAW midgut cells and when pyramided together should provide durability in the field against this economically important pest.IMPORTANCE There is increased concern with the development of resistance to insecticidal proteins currently expressed in crop plants, especially against high-resistance-risk pests such as fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, a maize pest that already has developed resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins such as Cry1F. Lepidopteran-specific proteins that bind new insect receptors will be critical in managing current Cry1F-resistant FAW and delaying future resistance development. Results from resistant insect assays, disabled insecticidal protein (DIP) bioassays, and cell-based assays using insect cells expressing individual receptors demonstrate that target receptors of the Cry1Da_7 and Cry1B.868 proteins are different from each other and from those of commercially available Bt proteins such as Cry1F, Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab, and Vip3A. Therefore, pyramiding these two new proteins in maize will provide durable control of this economically important pest in production agriculture.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Endotoxinas/metabolismo , Proteínas Hemolisinas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Insectos/metabolismo , Resistencia a los Insecticidas , Spodoptera/efectos de los fármacos , Spodoptera/metabolismo , Animales , Bacillus thuringiensis/genética , Bacillus thuringiensis/metabolismo , Toxinas de Bacillus thuringiensis , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/farmacología , Endotoxinas/genética , Endotoxinas/farmacología , Proteínas Hemolisinas/genética , Proteínas Hemolisinas/farmacología , Proteínas de Insectos/genética , Insecticidas/metabolismo , Insecticidas/farmacología , Enfermedades de las Plantas/parasitología , Plantas Modificadas Genéticamente/parasitología , Unión Proteica , Spodoptera/genética , Zea mays/parasitologíaRESUMEN
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
RESUMEN
Lygus species of plant-feeding insects have emerged as economically important pests of cotton in the United States. These species are not controlled by commercial Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton varieties resulting in economic losses and increased application of insecticide. Previously, a Bt crystal protein (Cry51Aa2) was reported with insecticidal activity against Lygus spp. However, transgenic cotton plants expressing this protein did not exhibit effective protection from Lygus feeding damage. Here we employ various optimization strategies, informed in part by protein crystallography and modelling, to identify limited amino-acid substitutions in Cry51Aa2 that increase insecticidal activity towards Lygus spp. by >200-fold. Transgenic cotton expressing the variant protein, Cry51Aa2.834_16, reduce populations of Lygus spp. up to 30-fold in whole-plant caged field trials. One transgenic event, designated MON88702, has been selected for further development of cotton varieties that could potentially reduce or eliminate insecticide application for control of Lygus and the associated environmental impacts.