Cloning and expression of the Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein gene in Escherichia coli.

Sau 3A1 partial digestion fragments from Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1 plasmid DNA were ligated into the BamHI site of the cloning vector pBR322 and transformed into Escherichia coli strain HB101. Colonies presumed to contain recombinant plasmids were screened for production of an antigen that would react with antibody made against B. thuringiensis crystals. One strain, ES12, was isolated by using this procedure. ES12 contains a plasmid of Mr 11 X 10(6) that has DNA sequence homology with pBR322 as well as with Mr 30 X 10(6) and Mr 47 X 10(6) plasmids of B. thuringiensis. It makes a protein antigen, detected by antibodies to crystal, which has the same electrophoretic mobility as the B. thuringiensis crystal protein. Protein extracts of ES12 are toxic to larvae of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta.