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Identification of a second cytotoxic protein produced by Bacillus thuringiensis A1470

Shiro Okumura1, Tomoyuki Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Saitoh

  • 1Biotechnology and Food Research Institute, Fukuoka Industrial Technology Center, 1465-5 Aikawa-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 839-0861, Japan, sokumura@fitc.pref.fukuoka.jp.

Biotechnology Letters
|June 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Bacillus thuringiensis A1470 produces two cytotoxic proteins, parasporin-2 and parasporin-4. The newly identified parasporin-2 exhibits similar cytotoxicity to the known parasporin-4 against human cell lines.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bacillus thuringiensis produces various proteins, including cytotoxic ones like parasporin-4.
  • Cytotoxic proteins from B. thuringiensis can target human cell lines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize a second cytotoxic protein from Bacillus thuringiensis A1470.
  • To compare the properties of the newly identified protein with known parasporins.

Main Methods:

  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a gene encoding a putative parasporin-2.
  • Gene cloning and expression in Escherichia coli.
  • Cytotoxicity assays against human cell lines (MOLT-4, Jurkat, HeLa, HepG2).

Main Results:

  • A gene encoding a novel parasporin-2 variant was identified and cloned from B. thuringiensis A1470.
  • The recombinant parasporin-2 showed similar cytotoxic activity to the known parasporin-2 from B. thuringiensis A1547.
  • B. thuringiensis A1470 was confirmed to produce both parasporin-2 and parasporin-4 simultaneously.

Conclusions:

  • Bacillus thuringiensis A1470 produces at least two distinct cytotoxic proteins: parasporin-2 and parasporin-4.
  • The identified parasporin-2 variant is functionally similar to its counterpart in B. thuringiensis A1547.
  • This study expands the understanding of B. thuringiensis toxin diversity and activity.

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