Compositions and methods for controlling coleopteran insects
Novel pesticidal polypeptides that are active against Coleopteran pests are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel insecticidal proteins are also provided. The nucleotide sequences encoding the pesticidal polypeptides can be used to transform prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to express the insecticidal proteins. Methods of making the insecticidal proteins and methods of using the insecticidal proteins, for example in transgenic plants to confer protection from insect damage are also disclosed.
1 . A nucleic acid comprising a coding sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 97% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein in the coding sequence is operably linked to a heterologous promoter.
2 . The nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the coding sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 17.
3 . The nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the coding sequence is codon optimized for expression in a plant.
4 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 1 .
5 . A transgenic host cell comprising a nucleic acid comprising a coding sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 97% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
6 . The transgenic host cell of claim 5 , wherein the transgenic host cell is a plant cell.
7 . The transgenic host cell of claim 6 , wherein the plant cell is a maize cell.
8 . The transgenic host cell of claim 5 , wherein the transgenic host cell is a bacterial cell.
9 . A plant comprising a nucleic acid sequence comprising a coding sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 97% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
10 . A seed of the plant of claim 9 , wherein the seed comprises the nucleic acid comprising the coding sequence that encodes the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence having at least 97% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
11 . A method of producing a transgenic plant, the method comprising:
a) Introducing into a plant cell a nucleic acid comprising a coding sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 97% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1;
b) Selecting a plant cell comprising the nucleic acid; and
c) Regenerating a plant from the selected plant cell.
12 . A method for producing a transgenic plant with enhanced insecticidal properties, comprising the steps of:
a) sexually crossing a first parent plant with a second parent plant, wherein the first or second parent plant is the plant of claim 9 ; and
b) selecting a first generation progeny plant with enhanced insecticidal properties, wherein the selected progeny plant comprises the nucleic acid molecule.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
a) selfing the first generation progeny plant, thereby producing a plurality of second generation progeny plants; and
b) selecting from the second generation progeny plants a plant with enhanced insecticidal properties, wherein the selected second generation progeny plant comprises the nucleic acid molecule.