The ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters are membrane proteins that can act as putative receptors for Cry proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in the midgut of different insects. For the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, ABCC2 and ABCC3 have been found to interact with Cry1A proteins, the main insecticidal proteins used in Bt crops, as well as Bt-based pesticides. The ABCC2 has shown to have specific binding towards Cry1Ac and is involved in the toxic process of Cry1A proteins, but the role of this transporter and how it relates with the Cry1A proteins is still unknown. Here, we have characterized the interactions between the SeABCC2 and the main proteins that bind to the receptor. By labeling the Cry1Aa protein, we have found that virtually all of the binding is in an oligomeric state, a conformation that allowed higher levels of specific binding that could not be achieved by the monomeric protein on its own. Furthermore, we have observed that Cry1A proteins can hetero-oligomerize in the presence of the transporter, which is reflected in an increase in binding and toxicity to SeABCC2-expressing cells. This synergism can be one of the reasons why B. thuringiensis co-expresses different Cry1 proteins that can apparently have similar binding preferences. The results from in vitro competition and ex vivo competition showed that Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac share functional binding sites. By using Cry1Ab–Cry1Ac chimeras, the presence of domain I from Cry1A proteins was revealed to be critical for oligomer formation.
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Cover Image
Cover Image
SMCHD1 is an epigenetic regulator that mediates gene expression silencing at targeted sites across the genome. In this issue Gurzau and colleagues (pp. 2555–2569) use biophysical techniques to we demonstrate that the SMCHD1 ATPase undergoes dimerization in a process that is dependent on both the N-terminal Ubiquitin-like domain and ATP binding. The cover image shows immunofluorescence with DAPI staining in cyan and SMCHD1 showing in yellow. Scale bars are 20 µm. Image provided by James M. Murphy.
Hetero-oligomerization of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A proteins enhance binding to the ABCC2 transporter of Spodoptera exigua
Daniel Pinos, Noelia Joya, Salvador Herrero, Juan Ferré, Patricia Hernández-Martínez; Hetero-oligomerization of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A proteins enhance binding to the ABCC2 transporter of Spodoptera exigua. Biochem J 16 July 2021; 478 (13): 2589–2600. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20210137
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