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Investigation of the membrane lesion induced in vitro by two mosquitocidal δ-endotoxins ofBacillus thuringiensis

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Abstract

Bacillus thuringiensis produces insecticidal crystalline δ-endotoxins during sporulation. Leakage of radiolabeled markers from insect tissue culture cells and erythrocytes supports a mechanism of colloid osmotic lysis for the 23K and 27K polypeptides from the δ-endotoxins ofBacillus thuringiensis var.darmstadiensis 73-E10-2 and var.israelensis, respectively. Both toxins produce a plasma membrane pore 0.6–1.0 nm in radius.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 1QW, Cambridge, England

    Francis A. Drobniewski & David J. Ellar

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  1. Francis A. Drobniewski
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  2. David J. Ellar
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Drobniewski, F.A., Ellar, D.J. Investigation of the membrane lesion induced in vitro by two mosquitocidal δ-endotoxins ofBacillus thuringiensis . Current Microbiology 16, 195–199 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01568529

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