Glycolipids as receptors for Bacillus thuringiensis crystal toxin

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 307; no. 5711; pp. 922 - 925
• Main Authors: Griffitts, J.S, Haslam, S.M, Yang, T, Garczynski, S.F, Mulloy, B, Morris, H, Cremer, P.S, Dell, A, Adang, M.J, Aroian, R.V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 11.02.2005; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animals; Bacillus thuringiensis; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacterial Proteins - toxicity; bacterial toxins; Bacterial Toxins - metabolism; Bacterial Toxins - toxicity; binding capacity; Binding Sites; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; Biotechnology; Caenorhabditis elegans; Caenorhabditis elegans - drug effects; Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics; Caenorhabditis elegans - metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - metabolism; Control; crystal proteins; disease resistance; Endotoxins - metabolism; Endotoxins - toxicity; Environment and pollution; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Galactose - pharmacology; Genes; Genetic engineering applications; Genetically engineered organisms behavior (microorganisms, plants, animals); Genetics; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Glycolipids; Glycolipids - chemistry; Glycolipids - isolation & purification; Glycolipids - metabolism; Glycoproteins; glycosphingolipids; Glycosphingolipids - chemistry; Glycosphingolipids - isolation & purification; Glycosphingolipids - metabolism; Glycosyltransferases - genetics; Glycosyltransferases - metabolism; Hemolysin Proteins; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Insect pests; insecticidal proteins; Insecticide Resistance; Insecticides; Insects; Lipid Bilayers; Lipids; Manduca sexta; Methylgalactosides - metabolism; Methylgalactosides - pharmacology; Methylglucosides - metabolism; Methylglucosides - pharmacology; midgut; Monosaccharides - analysis; mutants; Mutation; Nematoda; Nematodes; Pesticides; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Receptors; Roundworms; Scientific Concepts; T lymphocytes; Toxicity; Toxins; Vertebrates; United States; United Kingdom; Biotechnology; Genomics; Bacillus thuringiensis; Insecta; Biological model; Molecular crystals; Biochemistry; Bacillaceae; Endotoxin; Bacillales; Pest management; Gene; Bacteria; Carbohydrate; Pesticide resistance; Biopesticide; Mechanism of action; Nematoda; Biological receptor; Binding; Biochemical compound; Nematology; Fundamental mechanism; Glycolipid; Toxin; Caenorhabditis elegans; Vertebrata; Arthropoda; Helmintha; Animal protein; Nemathelminthia; Molecular biology; Invertebrata; Microbial insecticide
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1104444

The development of pest resistance threatens the effectiveness of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins used in transgenic and organic farming. Here, we demonstrate that (i) the major mechanism for Bt toxin resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans entails a loss of glycolipid carbohydrates; (ii) Bt toxin directly and specifically binds glycolipids; and (iii) this binding is carbohydrate-dependent and relevant for toxin action in vivo. These carbohydrates contain the arthroseries core conserved in insects and nematodes but lacking in vertebrates. We present evidence that insect glycolipids are also receptors for Bt toxin.