Abstract
An insect excitatory toxin from Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK IT) was cloned into the expression vector, pTWIN1, and expressed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) host cells. The soluble fusion expression of CBD-intein-BmK IT was obtained. The recombinant BmK IT was purified by two anion-exchange chromatography columns and one gel chromatography column. Bioassays were carried out to verify the toxicity of this recombinant toxin. At the end of a 96 h experimental period, 83% of cotton bollworm larvae were killed with an LT50 value of 58–62 h. Furthermore, the average weight of larvae fed on BmK IT-containing media was approx 4% of that of the control groups. The results indicate that the expressed and purified recombinant BmK IT has biological activity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
KA Barton MJ Miller (1990) ArticleTitleTransgenic plants expressing insecticidal proteins Eur. Pat. Appl. Ep. US Appl. 425 443
S Cestele WA Catterall (2000) ArticleTitleMolecular mechanisms of neurotoxin action on voltage-gated sodium channels Biochimie 82 883–892 Occurrence Handle11086218 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXovFahtr0%3D
M Eitan E Fowler R Hermann A Duval M Pelhate E Zlotkin (1990) ArticleTitleA scorpion venom neurotoxin paralytic to insects that affects sodium current inactivation: purification, primary structure and mode of action Biochemistry 29 5941–5947 Occurrence Handle10.1021/bi00477a009 Occurrence Handle2383565 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXktF2hsL8%3D
E Gershburg D Stockholm O Froy S Rashi M Gurevitz N Chejanovsky (1998) ArticleTitleBaculovirus-mediated expression of a scorpion depressant toxin improves the insecticidal efficacy achieved with excitatory toxins FEBS Lett. 422 132–136 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0014-5793(97)01614-1 Occurrence Handle9489991 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXnt12mtQ%3D%3D
D Gordon (1997) Sodium Channels As Targets for Neurotoxins: Mode of Action and Interaction of Neurotoxins with Receptor Sites on Sodium Channels Toxins and Signal Transduction Harwood Academic Publishers Australia 119–153
C Kopeyan P Mansuelle F Sampieri T Brando EM Bahraoui H Rochat C Granier (1990) ArticleTitlePrimary structure of scorpion anti-insect toxins isolated from the venom of Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus FEBS Lett. 261 423–426 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0014-5793(90)80607-K Occurrence Handle2311768 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXhvFems7s%3D
D Lester P Lazarovici M Pelhate E Zlotkin (1982) ArticleTitlePurification, characterization and action of two insect toxins from the venom of the scorpion (Buthotus judaicus) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 701 370–387 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL38XhtlOmtLk%3D
AH Liang XL Li ZG Su W Wang Y Sun (1999) ArticleTitleCloning and sequencing of an excitatory insect-selective neurotoxin BmK IT cDNA from Buthus martensii Karsch High Tech. Lett. 9 12–15
S Maeda SL Volrath TN Hanzlik SA Harper K Majima DW Maddox BD Hammock E Fowler (1991) ArticleTitleInsecticidal effects of an insect-specific neurotoxin expressed by a recombinant baculovirus Virology 184 777–780 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0042-6822(91)90451-G Occurrence Handle1887594 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38XlsVCmtrc%3D
BF McCutchen V Choudary R Crenshaw D Maddox SG Kamita N Palekar S Volrath (1991) ArticleTitleDevelopment of a recombinant baculovirus expressing an insect-selective neurotoxin: potential for pest control Biotechnology 9 848–852 Occurrence Handle1367359 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38XltlCqtQ%3D%3D
H Moskowitz R Hermann AD Jones BD Hammock (1998) ArticleTitleA depressant insect-selective toxin analog from the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus-purification and structure/function characterization Eur. J. Biochem. 254 44–49 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1432-1327.1998.2540044.x Occurrence Handle9652392 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXjsVygtLk%3D
LM Stewart M Hirst M Lopez Ferber AT Merryweather PJ Cayley RD Possee (1991) ArticleTitleConstruction of an improved baculovirus insecticide containing an insect-specific toxin gene Nature 352 85–88 Occurrence Handle2062383 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38Xhs1Oltbk%3D
E Zlotkin M Eitan M Pelhate N Chejanovsky M Gurevitz D Gordon (1994) ArticleTitleInsect specific neurotoxins from scorpion venom that effect sodium current inactivation J. Toxicol.-Toxin Reviews 13 25–43 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXksFWmsbo%3D
E Zlotkin F Miranda C Kopeyan S Lissitzky (1971) ArticleTitleA new toxic protein in the venom of the scorpion Androctonus australis Hector Toxicon. 9 9–13 Occurrence Handle5539376 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE3MXmt1yisg%3D%3D
ZY Zhang HS Zhang Y Sun AH Liang (2004) ArticleTitleConstruction of plant expression vectors containing two anti-insect genes Acta Bot. Borel.-Occident. Sin. 24 1402–1408 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXktlGjt70%3D
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hao, Cj., Xu, Cg., Wang, W. et al. Expression of an Insect Excitatory Toxin, BmK IT, from the Scorpion, Buthus martensii Karsch, and its Biological Activity. Biotechnol Lett 27, 1929–1934 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-005-3905-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-005-3905-0