scholarly journals Mutagenesis of two surface-exposed loops of the Bacillus thuringiensis CryIC δ-endotoxin affects insecticidal specificity

1994 ◽  
Vol 302 (2) ◽  
pp. 611-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
G P Smith ◽  
D J Ellar
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Time Dependence ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Sf9 Cells ◽  
Degenerate Oligonucleotide ◽  
Delta Endotoxin ◽  
A Cell

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to determine the role of two surface-exposed loops (Gly-317-Phe-320 and Gln-374-Pro-377) in the insecticidal specificity of the Bacillus thuringiensis CryIC delta-endotoxin. Mutant toxins were generated by PCR using degenerate oligonucleotide primers, and expressed in Escherichia coli. More than 50 mutant toxins were screened for toxicity to the lepidopteran Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cell line using an in vitro lawn assay. A panel of these mutant toxins, which included toxic and non-toxic variants from both loops, was further screened for activity towards Aedes aegypti larvae. The activity of these mutants to Sf9 cells was quantified more precisely using a cell lysis assay. Three categories of mutants were identified: (1) those non-toxic to either Sf9 cells or Aedes aegypti larvae; (2) those fully toxic to both genera; and (3) those which were only toxic to Sf9 cells. For the first loop, the differential specificity was not restricted to any single residue. In the second loop, two mutant toxins with a Pro-377-->Ala substitution displayed this phenotype. The time dependence of toxicity towards Sf9 cells was examined using the same panel of mutants. All toxic mutants displayed an identical time course to the wild-type toxin, with the exception of the two Pro-377-->Ala mutants of the second loop. These toxins displayed a lower time dependence, no cell death occurring within the first hour of incubation. These results show that the two loops are important determinants of both the activity and specificity of the CryIC delta-endotoxin.

scholarly journals Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis δ-Endotoxin on Insect and Mammalian Cells In Vitro

1980 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junko NISHITSUTSUJI-UWO ◽  
Yasuhisa ENDO ◽  
Michio HIMENO
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Delta Endotoxin

Binding of the transcription factor EBP-80 mediates the methylation response of an intracisternal A-particle long terminal repeat promoter

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-125
Author(s):  
M Falzon ◽  
E L Kuff
Keyword(s):  
Promoter Activity ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Long Terminal Repeats ◽  
Transcription System ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Intracisternal A Particle

Intracisternal A-particle (IAP) expression in mouse cells has been correlated with hypomethylation of HhaI and HpaII sites in proviral long terminal repeats (LTRs). In a previous study, in vitro methylation of three HhaI sites in the U3 region of the LTR from the cloned genomic IAP element, MIA14, was shown to inhibit promoter activity in vivo. In this study, we found by site-directed mutagenesis that the two more downstream HhaI sites within this LTR were responsible for the methylation effects on promoter activity in vivo; methylation of the other (5') HhaI site, which lies within a putative SP1 binding domain, did not affect promoter activity. Methylation of the HhaI sites also inhibited promoter activity of the LTR in a cell-free transcription system. Exonuclease III footprinting demonstrated methylation-induced changes in protein binding over the region encompassing the downstream HhaI site, designated the Enh2 domain. The protein that interacts specifically with this domain, EBP-80, was characterized in a previous study (M. Falzon and E. L. Kuff, J. Biol. Chem. 264:21915-21922, 1989). We show here that the presence of methylcytosine in the HhaI site within the Enh2 domain inhibited binding of EBP-80 in vitro. The methylated MIA14 LTR construct was much less responsive to added EBP-80 in an in vitro transcription system than was the unmethylated construct. These data suggest that CpG methylation within the Enh2 domain may exert its effect on transcription in vivo by altering the interaction between EBP-80 and its cognate DNA sequence.

scholarly journals Cadherin binding is not a limiting step for Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis Cry4Ba toxicity to Aedes aegypti larvae

2012 ◽  
Vol 443 (3) ◽  
pp. 711-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Rodríguez-Almazán ◽  
Esmeralda Z. Reyes ◽  
Fernando Zúñiga-Navarrete ◽  
Carlos Muñoz-Garay ◽  
Isabel Gómez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Lipid Bilayers ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Cry Toxins ◽  
Bacillus Thuringiensis Subsp ◽  
Limiting Step ◽  
Cry Toxin ◽  
Receptor Fragment

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis produces three Cry toxins (Cry4Aa, Cry4Ba and Cry11Aa) that are active against Aedes aegypti larvae. The identification of the rate-limiting binding steps of Cry toxins that are used for insect control in the field, such as those of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, should provide targets for improving insecticides against important insect pests. Previous studies showed that Cry11Aa binds to cadherin receptor fragment CR7–11 (cadherin repeats 7–11) with high affinity. Binding to cadherin has been proposed to facilitate Cry toxin oligomer formation. In the present study, we show that Cry4Ba binds to CR7–11 with 9-fold lower binding affinity compared with Cry11Aa. Oligomerization assays showed that Cry4Ba is capable of forming oligomers when proteolytically activated in vitro in the absence of the CR7–11 fragment in contrast with Cry11Aa that formed oligomers only in the presence of CR7–11. Pore-formation assays in planar lipid bilayers showed that Cry4Ba oligomers were proficient in opening ion channels. Finally, silencing the cadherin gene by dsRNA (double-stranded RNA) showed that silenced larvae were more tolerant to Cry11Aa in contrast with Cry4Ba, which showed similar toxic levels to those of control larvae. These findings show that cadherin binding is not a limiting step for Cry4Ba toxicity to A. aegypti larvae.

Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis crystal delta-endotoxin: effects on insect and mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo

1983 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.E. Thomas ◽  
D.J. Ellar
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Parasporal Crystal ◽  
Discontinuous Sucrose Gradient ◽  
Delta Endotoxin

Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis parasporal crystal delta-endotoxin was purified by ultracentrifugation on a discontinuous sucrose gradient. Native delta-endotoxin crystals showed no detectable toxicity in the vitro and in vivo systems that are described. By contrast alkali-solubilized crystal delta-endotoxin caused rapid cytological and cytopathological changes in Aedes albopictus, Choristoneura fumiferana 63 CF1, Spodoptera frugiperda and Trichoplusia ni cell lines as observed by phase-contrast microscopy and vital staining. Mouse fibroblasts, primary pig lymphocytes and three mouse epithelial carcinoma cell types showed a similar response to the alkali-soluble crystal delta-endotoxin. In addition the soluble crystal delta-endotoxin protein caused haemolysis of rat, mouse, sheep, horse and human erythrocytes. Intravenous administration of the alkali-soluble crystal delta-endotoxin to Balb. c mice at a dose rate of 15–30 micrograms of protein per gram body weight resulted in rapid paralysis followed by death within 12h. Subcutaneous inoculation of 15–30 micrograms of protein per gram body weight resulted in death of suckling mice in 2–3 h. The alkali-solubilized crystal delta-endotoxin was not toxic however, when administered per os. A comparison is made with a similar alkali-soluble fraction from the parasporal crystal delta-endotoxin of B. thuringiensis var kurstaki. With the exception of the Lepidopteran cell line, Choristoneura fumiferana 63 CF1, this soluble crystal delta-endotoxin protein showed no in vitro or in vivo toxicity, and no haemolytic activity.

Characterization and partial purification of a plasma membrane receptor for Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki lepidopteran-specific delta-endotoxin

1986 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-101
Author(s):  
B.H. Knowles ◽  
D.J. Ellar
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Galactose Oxidase ◽  
Partial Purification ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Delta Endotoxin ◽  
Plasma Membrane Receptor ◽  
Insect Gut

The lepidopteran-specific P1 delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1 was activated in vitro using insect gut proteases and found to be highly specific for the lepidopteran cell line Choristoneura fumiferana CF1 among a wide range of lepidopteran and dipteran cell lines tested. The toxicity of P1 against CF1 cells is inhibited by N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), and the lectins soybean agglutinin (SBA) and wheat-germ agglutinin. Protein blotting was used to identify a glycoprotein of 146 X 10(3) Mr in the plasma membrane of CF1 cells, capable of binding both the toxin and SBA, which is specific for GalNAc. This glycoprotein was labelled using galactose oxidase and sodium boro-[3H]hydride and solubilized in Triton X-100 before partial purification by affinity chromatography on SBA-agarose. We propose that this glycoprotein is a good candidate for the cellular receptor of the lepidopteran-specific P1 delta-endotoxin of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1.

scholarly journals Characterization of ultrapotent chemogenetic ligands for research applications in non-human primates

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Raper ◽  
Mark A.G. Eldridge ◽  
Scott Sternson ◽  
Jalene Y Shim ◽  
Grace P Fomani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Effector Molecules ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Pharmacological Control

Chemogenetics is a technique for obtaining selective pharmacological control over a cell population by expressing an engineered receptor that is selectively activated by an exogenously administered ligand. A promising approach for neuronal modulation involves the use of Pharmacologically Selective Actuator Modules (PSAMs); these chemogenetic receptors are selectively activated by ultrapotent Pharmacologically Selective Effector Molecules (uPSEMs). To extend the use of PSAM/PSEMs to studies in nonhuman primates it is necessary to thoroughly characterize the efficacy and safety of these tools. We describe the time course and brain penetrance in rhesus monkeys of two compounds with promising binding specificity and efficacy profiles in in vitro studies, uPSEM792 and uPSEM817, after systemic administration. Rhesus macaques received subcutaneous (s.c.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration of uPSEM817(0.064 mg/kg) or uPSEM792 (0.87 mg/kg) and plasma and CSF samples were collected over the course of 48 hours. Both compounds exhibited good brain penetrance, relatively slow washout and negligible conversion to potential metabolites - varenicline or hydroxyvarenicline. In addition, we found that neither of these uPSEMs significantly altered heart rate or sleep. Our results indicate that both compounds are suitable candidates for neuroscience studies using PSAMs in nonhuman primates.

scholarly journals Binding of the transcription factor EBP-80 mediates the methylation response of an intracisternal A-particle long terminal repeat promoter.

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Falzon ◽  
E L Kuff
Keyword(s):  
Promoter Activity ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Long Terminal Repeats ◽  
Transcription System ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Intracisternal A Particle

Intracisternal A-particle (IAP) expression in mouse cells has been correlated with hypomethylation of HhaI and HpaII sites in proviral long terminal repeats (LTRs). In a previous study, in vitro methylation of three HhaI sites in the U3 region of the LTR from the cloned genomic IAP element, MIA14, was shown to inhibit promoter activity in vivo. In this study, we found by site-directed mutagenesis that the two more downstream HhaI sites within this LTR were responsible for the methylation effects on promoter activity in vivo; methylation of the other (5') HhaI site, which lies within a putative SP1 binding domain, did not affect promoter activity. Methylation of the HhaI sites also inhibited promoter activity of the LTR in a cell-free transcription system. Exonuclease III footprinting demonstrated methylation-induced changes in protein binding over the region encompassing the downstream HhaI site, designated the Enh2 domain. The protein that interacts specifically with this domain, EBP-80, was characterized in a previous study (M. Falzon and E. L. Kuff, J. Biol. Chem. 264:21915-21922, 1989). We show here that the presence of methylcytosine in the HhaI site within the Enh2 domain inhibited binding of EBP-80 in vitro. The methylated MIA14 LTR construct was much less responsive to added EBP-80 in an in vitro transcription system than was the unmethylated construct. These data suggest that CpG methylation within the Enh2 domain may exert its effect on transcription in vivo by altering the interaction between EBP-80 and its cognate DNA sequence.

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