Compositions and methods for contolling plant pests
Novel insecticidal proteins isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis that are active against lepidopteran insect pests are disclosed. The DNA encoding the insecticidal proteins can be used to transform various prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to express the insecticidal proteins. These recombinant organisms can be used to control lepidopteran insects in various environments.
1. A chimeric gene comprising a heterologous promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that (a) encodes an insecticidal protein comprising an amino acid sequence that has at least 99% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:16; or (b) encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:16; or (c) is a synthetic sequence of (a) or (b) that has codons optimized for expression in a transgenic organism.
2. The chimeric gene of claim 1 , wherein the heterologous promoter is a plant expressible promoter.
3. The chimeric gene of claim 2 , wherein the plant expressible promoter is selected from the group consisting of ubiquitin, cmp, corn TrpA, bacteriophage T3 gene 9 5′ UTR, corn sucrose synthetase 1, corn alcohol dehydrogenase 1, corn light harvesting complex, corn heat shock protein, pea small subunit RuBP carboxylase, Ti plasmid mannopine synthase, Ti plasmid nopaline synthase, petunia chalcone isomerase, bean glycine rich protein 1, potato patatin, lectin, CaMV 35S and S-E9 small subunit RuBP carboxylase promoter.
4. The chimeric gene of claim 1 , wherein the insecticidal protein is toxic to at least black cutworm ( Agrotis ipsilon ).
5. The chimeric gene of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:8.
6. A recombinant vector comprising the chimeric gene of claim 1 .
7. A transgenic plant comprising the chimeric gene of claim 1 .
8. Seed of the transgenic plant of claim 7 , wherein said seed comprises the chimeric gene.
9. A harvested product derived from the transgenic plant of claim 7 , wherein the harvested product comprises the chimeric gene or a protein encoded by the chimeric gene.
10. An extract from the transgenic plant of claim 7 , wherein the extract comprises the chimeric gene or a protein encoded by the chimeric gene.
11. A method of producing an insect-resistant transgenic plant, comprising: introducing into a plant the chimeric gene of claim 1 , wherein the insecticidal protein is expressed in the plant, said protein conferring to the plant resistance to an insect pest, and thereby producing an insect-resistant transgenic plant.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the introducing step is achieved by (a) transforming the plant; or (b) crossing a first plant comprising the chimeric gene with a different second plant.
13. A method of controlling at least black cutworm ( Agrotis ipsilon ), comprising delivering to the insect pest an effective amount of an insecticidal protein encoded by the chimeric gene of claim 1 .
14. A synthetic nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes an insecticidal protein and that has codons optimized for expression in a transgenic organism, wherein the nucleotide sequence (a) comprises SEQ ID NO:8; or (b) encodes an amino acid sequence that has at least 99% identity with SEQ ID NO:16.
15. The synthetic nucleic acid molecule of claim 14 , wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes SEQ ID NO:16.
16. The chimeric gene of claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:4.