Open AccessConjugative transfer, stability and expression of a plasmid encoding a cry 1Ac gene in Bacillus cereus group strains
Author(s) -
Hu Xiaomin,
Hansen Bjarne Munk,
Eilenberg J?rgen,
Hendriksen Niels Bohse,
Smidt Lasse,
Yuan Zhiming,
Jensen Gert Bolander
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00925-x
Subject(s) - bacillus thuringiensis , plasmid , bacillus cereus , cry1ac , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bacillaceae , cereus , gel electrophoresis , bacillales , polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis , strain (injury) , bacteria , gene , genetics , biochemistry , bacillus subtilis , transgene , genetically modified crops , enzyme , anatomy
The plasmid pHT73 containing cry 1Ac and tagged with an erythromycin resistance gene was transferred from Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki KT0 to several Bacillus cereus group strains by conjugation. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and phase contrast microscopy showed that the transconjugants containing plasmid pHT73 could express Cry1Ac toxin and produce bipyramidal crystalline inclusion bodies during sporulation. The study demonstrated that pHT73 could be transferred to B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki , several B. cereus strains and Bacillus mycoides . Under non‐selective conditions, the stability of the pHT73 plasmid in the transconjugants was found to be 58.2–100% after 100 generations and 4–96% after 200 generations. The variations are mainly caused by the choice of receptor strain.