Compatibility of garlic (Allium sativum L.) leaf agglutinin and Cry1Ac δ-endotoxin for gene pyramiding

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2012 Mar;93(6):2365-75. doi: 10.1007/s00253-011-3547-1. Epub 2011 Aug 26.

Abstract

δ-Endotoxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been used as bio-pesticides for the control of lepidopteran insect pests. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) leaf agglutinin (ASAL), being toxic to several sap-sucking pests and some lepidopteran pests, may be a good candidate for pyramiding with δ-endotoxins in transgenic plants for enhancing the range of resistance to insect pests. Since ASAL shares the midgut receptors with Cry1Ac in Helicoverpa armigera, there is possibility of antagonism in their toxicity. Our study demonstrated that ASAL increased the toxicity of Cry1Ac against H. armigera while Cry1Ac did not alter the toxicity of ASAL against cotton aphids. The two toxins interacted and increased binding of each other to brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) proteins and to the two important receptors, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminopeptidase N (APN). The results indicated that the toxins had different binding sites on the ALP and APN but influenced mutual binding. We conclude that ASAL can be safely employed with Cry1Ac for developing transgenic crops for wider insect resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agglutinins / genetics
  • Agglutinins / pharmacology*
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / chemistry
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Aphids / chemistry
  • Aphids / drug effects
  • Aphids / enzymology
  • Aphids / growth & development
  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Binding Sites
  • CD13 Antigens / chemistry
  • CD13 Antigens / metabolism
  • Drug Interactions
  • Endotoxins / genetics
  • Endotoxins / pharmacology*
  • Garlic / chemistry*
  • Hemolysin Proteins / genetics
  • Hemolysin Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism
  • Moths / chemistry
  • Moths / drug effects
  • Moths / enzymology
  • Moths / growth & development
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry*
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Agglutinins
  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Endotoxins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • CD13 Antigens