Peptide mediated, enhanced toxicity of a bacterial pesticidal protein against southern green stink bug. Issue 7 (22nd March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Banerjee, Rahul; Flores‐Escobar, Biviana; Chougule, Nanasaheb P.; Cantón, Pablo Emiliano; Dumitru, Razvan; Bonning, Bryony C.
• Is Part Of: Microbial biotechnology. Volume 15:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: 2071
• Page End: 2082
• Publication Date: 2022-03-22
• Subjects: Microbial biotechnology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology; Microbiology; 660.62
• DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-7915

Abstract

Summary: The damage caused by stink bugs that feed on agricultural crops accounts for such significant losses that transgenic plant resistance to stink bugs would be highly desirable. As the level of toxicity of the Bacillus thuringiensis ‐derived, ETX/Mtx2 pesticidal protein Mpp83Aa1 is insufficient for practical use against the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula, we employed two disparate approaches to isolate peptides NvBP1 and ABP5 that bind to specific proteins (alpha amylase and aminopeptidase N respectively) on the surface of the N. viridula gut. Incorporation of these peptides into Mpp83Aa1 provided artificial anchors resulting in increased gut binding, and enhanced toxicity. These peptide‐modified pesticidal proteins with increased toxicity provide a key advance for potential future use against N. viridula when delivered by transgenic plants to mitigate economic loss associated with this important pest. Abstract : The damage caused by stink bugs that feed on agricultural crops is significant. Here we describe modification of the pesticidal protein Mpp83Aa1 by addition of peptides that bind to the gut surface proteins alpha amylase or aminopeptidase N. These peptides provided artificial anchors resulting in increased gut binding, and enhanced toxicity against the southern green stink bug.