Bt Toxin Resistance from Loss of a Putative Carbohydrate-Modifying Enzyme

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1062441
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:39:52Z
• Authors: Joel S. Griffitts; Johanna L. Whitacre; Daniel E. Stevens; Raffi V. Aroian
• Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis; Cloning (programming); Wild type

The development of resistance is the main threat to long-term use toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in transgenic plants. Here we report cloning a Bt toxin gene, Caenorhabditis elegans bre-5, which encodes putative beta-1,3-galactosyltransferase. Lack bre-5 intestine led Cry5B. Wild-type but not mutant animals were found uptake into their gut cells, consistent with mutants lacking toxin-binding sites on apical gut. displayed Cry14A, lethal both nematodes and insects; this indicates that by loss carbohydrate modification relevant multiple toxins.