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Amplification of a Chimeric Bacillus Gene in Chloroplasts Leads to an Extraordinary Level of an Insecticidal Protein in Tobacco

Bio/Technology volume 13, pages 362–365 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

The Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystal toxins are safe biological insecticides, but have short persistence and are poorly effective against pests that feed inside plant tissues. Production of effective levels of these proteins in plants has required resynthesis of the genes encoding them.We report that amplification of an unmodified crylA(c) coding sequence in chloroplasts up to ∼ 10,000 copies per cell resulted in the accumulation of an unprecedented 3–5% of the soluble protein hi tobacco haves as protoxin. The plants were extremely toxic to larvae of Hetiothis virescens, Helicoverpa zea, and Spodoptera exigua. Since the plastid transgenes are not transmitted by pollen, this report has implications for containment of Bt genes in crop plants. Furthermore, accumulation of insecticidal protein at a high level will facilitate improvement in the management of Bt resistant insect populations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Calgene Inc., 1920 Fifth Street, Davis, CA, 95616

    Kevin E. McBride, David J. Schaaf, Patric S. Hogan & David M. Stalker

  2. Waksman Institute, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08855-0759

    Zora Svab & Pal Maliga

Authors
  1. Kevin E. McBride
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  2. Zora Svab
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  3. David J. Schaaf
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  4. Patric S. Hogan
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  5. David M. Stalker
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  6. Pal Maliga
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McBride, K., Svab, Z., Schaaf, D. et al. Amplification of a Chimeric Bacillus Gene in Chloroplasts Leads to an Extraordinary Level of an Insecticidal Protein in Tobacco. Nat Biotechnol 13, 362–365 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0495-362

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