A chimeric protein encoded by synthetic genes shows toxicity to Helicoverpa armigera and Spodotera littoralis larvae. | International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 2013

Author(s)

Zaheer Abbas Department of Plant Genomics and Biotechnology, PARC Institute of Advanced Studies in Agriculture, National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) Islamabad, Pakistan;National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), NARC Islamabad, Pakistan

Yusuf Zafar Biosciences Division, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Islamabad, Pakistan

Sher Afzal Khan National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Pakistan

Zahid Mukhtar National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Insects have natural potential to develop resistance against chemical insecticides. Several resistance strategies have been suggested including biopesticides and use of two dissimilar toxins. Advances in molecular biology techniques have now allowed construction of chimeric proteins to delay the development of resistance in insect population, but still there are chances of developing resistance in insect population against them as these fusions are based on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes only, which have some homology in their amino acid sequences, having same mode of action and derived from same bacterial origin. In the present study ω-ACTX–Hv1a toxin gene (Hvt) as an insect calcium channel antagonist is fused with Btcry1 Ac to combine both strategies (biopesticides and two dissimilar toxins) and delay the resistance in insect population. The recombinant protein has been successfully expressed in prokaryotic system and was detected by SDS PAGE. Topical application of the 1.0 pmol purified recombinant protein to the thoracic region paralyzed and immobilized the Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera littoralis larvae within 2 h. 100% mortality was observed in insects after 24 h. The LD50 was found to be 4 and 2 pmol per gram of body weight for H. armigera and S. littoralis larvae, respectively. The present study clearly indicates that this recombinant protein is highly effective against agronomical important lepidopteron insects and is an excellent candidate for use as a biopesticides or expressed heterogeneously in agricultural crops to provide long lasting resistance to insect attacks.

Publication Details

Page(s) 325-330

DOI DOI not available

Published Journal: International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Volume: 15, Issue: 2, Year: 2013

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