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A 63 KDa toxic polypeptide fromBacillus thuringiensis subsp.kurstaki (HD-263): Effects on several lepidopteran cell lines

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Summary

An electrophoretically homogeneous 63 KDa polypeptide derived from the protoxin ofBacillus thuringiensis subsp.kurstaki; (HD-263) caused lysis of cells from the lepidopteran cell lines TN368, IPLB-HZ1075, LD652Y, and SF21AE. The extent of cytolysis among the different cell cultures varied according to the incubation milieu, the polypeptide, and the particular cell culture studied.

Preincubation of the polypeptide with either the amino sugars galactosamine, mannosamine, glucosamine, or theirN-acetyl derivatives prevented cytolysis to a varying extent. Derivatives of galactose were more effective than those of mannose, followed by those of glucose. The amino sugars inhibited more efficiently than theN-acetyl derivatives. No inhibition was detected using the parent sugars.

A baculovirus originally isolated from the lepidopteranAutographa californica was grown in TN368 cells and the extracellular virus (ECV) preincubated with varying concentrations of the polypeptide before assay. A concentration of 5 μg/ml reduced viral infectivity 99% when assayed on TN368 cells.

These results support the current thinking that at least some Bt toxins may utilize specific cell-surface glycoconjugates for initiation of their toxic action and that the numbers and types of receptors may vary with the specific cell line. Also, reduction of baculovirus ECV infectivity by Bt toxic polypeptide indicates binding to a cell-surface glycoconjugate essential for initiation of infection, whether it is the normal cell receptor or a virus-coded glycoconjugate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Pesticides Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, 16802, University Park, PA

    William J. McCarthy & Jim Labenberg

  2. Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, 12222, Albany, NY

    John N. Aronson

Authors
  1. William J. McCarthy
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  2. John N. Aronson
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  3. Jim Labenberg
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Authorized for publication by as Journal Series Paper No. 7670.

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McCarthy, W.J., Aronson, J.N. & Labenberg, J. A 63 KDa toxic polypeptide fromBacillus thuringiensis subsp.kurstaki (HD-263): Effects on several lepidopteran cell lines. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol 24, 59–64 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02623816

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02623816

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