Entomotoxic polypeptides
The invention relates to novel entomotoxic polypeptides of the family of albumins 1b in legumes. Said polypeptides can be especially used as insecticides.
1. A recombinant expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising
(SEQ ID NO: 1)
ASCPNVGAVCSPFETKPCGNVKDCRCLPWGLFFGTCINPTG,
said polynucleotide being placed under the transcriptional control of a prokaryotic promoter.
2. A recombinant vector containing the expression cassette as claimed in claim 1 .
3. A transgenic plant comprising a transgene comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising
(SEQ ID NO: 1)
ASCPNVGAVCSPFETKPCGNVKDCRCLPWGLFFGTCINPTG.
4. A genetically modified cell or virus comprising an expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising
(SEQ ID NO: 1)
ASCPNVGAVCSPFETKPCGNVKDCRCLPWGLFFGTCINPTG.
5. A method of controlling insects comprising contacting said insects with a genetically modified cell or virus according to claim 4 .
6. A method of controlling insect damage to a plant comprising growing a transgenic plant according to claim 3 , said plant expressing a polypeptide comprising
(SEQ ID NO: 1)
ASCPNVGAVCSPFETKPCGNVKDCRCLPWGLFFGTCINPTG
in amounts toxic to insects.
7. The genetically modified cell or virus according to claim 4 , wherein the genetically modified cell or virus is a plant cell.
8. The genetically modified cell or virus according to claim 4 , wherein the genetically modified cell or virus is a virus.
9. The genetically modified cell or virus according to claim 4 , wherein the genetically modified cell or virus is a bacterial cell.
10. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the insects are contacted with a genetically modified bacterial cell.
11. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the insects are contacted with a genetically modified virus.