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Role of alkaline phosphatase in insecticidal action of Cry1Ac against Helicoverpa armigera larvae

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Abstract

Cry1Ac δ-endotoxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is used as a bio-pesticide for the control of Helicoverpa armigera. Aminopeptidases N (APN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) play critical roles in its action against H. armigera larvae. The binding of Cry1Ac with brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) proteins was increased with the larval development although the sensitivity of larvae to δ-endotoxins decreased. There was higher expression of ALP than APN in early instar larvae with a ~10-fold higher affinity of Cry1Ac towards ALP than to APN. Binding to a specific receptor is therefore more important for the insecticidal activity rather than overall binding to the BBMV proteins. ALP might play a major role in toxicity as compared to APN.

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Acknowledgment

Authors are grateful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, New Millennium Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) program for the financial support. SKU is thankful to CSIR for senior research fellowship and G B Technical University, Lucknow, UP, India for Ph.D. registration.

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  1. National Botanical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, UP, 226001, India

    Santosh K. Upadhyay & Pradhyumna K. Singh

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  1. Santosh K. Upadhyay
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  2. Pradhyumna K. Singh
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Correspondence to Pradhyumna K. Singh.

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Upadhyay, S.K., Singh, P.K. Role of alkaline phosphatase in insecticidal action of Cry1Ac against Helicoverpa armigera larvae. Biotechnol Lett 33, 2027–2036 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-011-0665-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-011-0665-x

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