Binary insecticidal Cry toxins
The subject invention concerns new classes of insecticidally-active proteins and the polynucleotide sequences which encode these proteins. More specifically, insecticidal proteins of approximately 12-24 kDa and of approximately 12-14 kDa are used for controlling corn rootworms. The subject invention includes methods and transgenic plants for controlling Western Corn Rootworm and other coleopteran insects.
1. A method for controlling a coleopteran pest which comprises exposing the gut of said coleopteran pest to an effective combination of a potentiator protein and a toxin protein, wherein the potentiator protein comprises a functional amino acid sequence comprising a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the toxin protein comprises any one of the toxin proteins selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 71, 74, 76, 82, 86, 88, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, and 105.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the toxin protein is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 71, 74, 76, 82, 86, 88, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, and 105.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the coleopteran pest is western com rootworm (WCR, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte).
5. The method of claim 2 wherein the coleopteran pest is western com rootworm (WCR, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte).
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the coleopteran pest is western com rootworm (WCR, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte).