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Purification and Properties of a Novel Insecticidal Protein from the Locust Pathogen Serratia marcescens HR-3

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Abstract

One or more proteinaceous factors with insecticidal activities in the locust pathogen Serratia marcescens HR-3 culture filtrates were found to cause the death of grassland locusts. A novel insecticidal protein was purified to homogeneity. It was a monomer of 61 kDa. The purified protein showed a strong insecticidal effect with a median lethal dosage of 12.1 μg locust−1 and contained a high level of protease activity (101 U ml−1). Insecticidal activity was significantly decreased when the protein was pretreated with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and 1-10-phenanthroline, and it was restored when the treated protein was incubated with Zn2+. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of insecticidal protein showed sequence similarity with metalloprotease from S. marcescens SM6 and Serratia spp. E15. Our results suggested that the factor primarily responsible for insecticidal activity toward locusts was a zinc-dependent 61-kDa metalloprotease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Laboratory of Grassland Biocontrol Engineering, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, People’s Republic of China

    Ke Tao, Zhangfu Long, Kun Liu, Yong Tao & Shigui Liu

  2. Institute of Chuangxin Biotechnology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, People’s Republic of China

    Zhangfu Long, Kun Liu & Shigui Liu

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  1. Ke Tao
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  2. Zhangfu Long
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  3. Kun Liu
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  4. Yong Tao
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  5. Shigui Liu
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Correspondence to Shigui Liu.

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Tao, K., Long, Z., Liu, K. et al. Purification and Properties of a Novel Insecticidal Protein from the Locust Pathogen Serratia marcescens HR-3. Curr Microbiol 52, 45–49 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-005-0089-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-005-0089-8

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