Axmi-031, axmi-039, axmi-040 and axmi-049, a family of novel delta-endotoxin genes and methods for their use

Abstract

Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, or 38, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, or 37, as well as variants and fragments thereof.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 762,886, filed Jun. 14, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 813,774, filed Jun. 14, 2006, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY[0002]The official copy of the sequence listing is submitted electronically via EFS-Web as an ASCII formatted sequence listing with a file named “366899_SequenceListing.txt”, created on Jan. 31, 2009, and having a size of 347 kilobytes and is filed concurrently with the specification. The sequence listing contained in this ASCII formatted document is part of the specification and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to the field of molecular biology. Provided are novel genes that encode pesticidal proteins. These proteins and the nucleic acid sequences tha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes methods and compositions for conferring pest resistance to bacteria, plants, and seeds. The invention includes nucleic acid molecules encoding sequences for delta-endotoxin polypeptides, vectors comprising these nucleic acid molecules, and host cells comprising the vectors. The invention also includes the polypeptide sequences of the endotoxin and antibodies to them. The nucleotide sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in organisms. The invention also includes isolated nucleic acid molecules and amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides. The methods for controlling or killing pests include introducing into a plant a polynucleotide encoding a nematode-active polypeptide or using the compositions of the invention for generating altered or improved delta-endotoxin proteins with pesticidal activity. The invention is useful for agricultural purposes and can be used for detecting the presence of delta-endotoxin proteins or nucleic acids in products or organisms.

Problems solved by technology

This toxin binds to apical brush border receptors in the midgut of the target larvae and inserts into the apical membrane creating ion channels or pores, resulting in larval death.