Functional characterization of a novel, highly expressed ion-driven sugar antiporter in the thoracic muscles of Helicoverpa armigera.

Sugar transporters (STs), which mainly mediate cellular sugar exchanges, play critical physiological roles in living organisms, and they may be responsible for sugar exchanges among various insect tissues. However, the molecular and physiological functions of insect STs are largely unknown. Here, 16 STs of Helicoverpa armigera were identified.

Aminopeptidase N5 (APN5) as a Putative Functional Receptor of Cry1Ac Toxin in the Larvae of Athetis lepigone.

Athetis lepigone was a new lepidopteran pest and caused severe damage to maize crops in China. We have detected that Cry1Ac protoxin and toxin were highly active against the larvae of A. lepigone.

Detection of minimum activity fragment of a novel Cry7Ab3 protein specific to Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata (Coleopteran: Coccinellidae).

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry7Ab3 toxin has insecticidal activity against larvae of Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata. Cry7Ab3 toxin is solubilized under alkaline condition and activated by proteases within the larval gut. In order to assess the functions of the N- and C-terminal regions, several N- and C-terminal truncated forms of Cry7Ab3 were constructed.

Identification of Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) midgut putative receptor for Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal Cry7Ab3 toxin.

Bt WZ-9 strain, containing a single Cry7Ab3 toxin, had effective insecticidal activity against larvae of Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata. By incubation with larvae midgut homogenate and trypsin in vitro, 130 kDa Cry7Ab3 protoxin was degraded into the ∼75 kDa proteinase-resistant fragments. In vivo analysis, 130 kDa Cry7Ab3 protoxin was also processed into ∼75 kDa fragment.