Cry1B Polypeptide Variant for Broader Lepidopteran Pest Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing genetically engineered crops provide resistance to only a narrow range of economically important insect pests, necessitating the development of new Bt toxins with improved insecticidal activity against insects from the orders Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, and biopesticides with broader activity against various insect pests.
Innovation Solution
A variant Cry1B polypeptide with an L50F amino acid substitution and a recombinant polynucleotide encoding it, operably linked to a heterologous regulatory element, is introduced into transgenic plants to enhance insecticidal activity against fall armyworm and other Lepidopteran pests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If broad-spectrum chemical insecticides are used, then insect pest control effectiveness is improved, but environmental hazards and pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the amino acid sequence of Cry1B polypeptide (specifically L50F substitution) to alter its insecticidal properties. This creates a variant with enhanced activity spectrum against both Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, reducing the need for broad-spectrum chemical insecticides and their associated environmental hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite approach by combining the L50F amino acid substitution with existing Cry1B polypeptide structure, resulting in a hybrid variant that exhibits both the stability of the original and enhanced activity against multiple insect orders, thereby reducing reliance on hazardous chemical insecticides.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If genetically engineered crops producing Bacillus pesticidal proteins are used, then environmental friendliness is improved, but insecticidal activity spectrum is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the amino acid parameters of Cry1B polypeptide by introducing the L50F substitution, which fundamentally changes the protein's activity spectrum. This single amino acid change enables the protein to effectively target both Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, expanding the versatility of environmentally friendly biopesticides.
Solution Approach 2:
The variant Cry1B polypeptide achieves multi-functionality by being effective against multiple insect orders (Lepidoptera and Coleoptera). This universal activity allows a single biopesticide product to replace multiple specialized products, maintaining environmental friendliness while significantly broadening the range of controlled pests.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard Cry1B polypeptide is used, then production cost is reduced, but insecticidal activity against fall armyworm is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific amino acid substitution (L50F) that optimizes the Cry1B polypeptide's activity against fall armyworm. This targeted modification enhances binding affinity or toxicity mechanism specifically for fall armyworm while maintaining relatively simple production requirements through recombinant DNA technology.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The disclosure provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, derived from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding variant polypeptides having increased pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera and Coleopteran. Particular embodiments of the disclosure provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.