FUNCTIONAL EXPRESSION OF AN ALPHA-ANTIINSECT SCORPION NEUROTOXIN IN INSECT CELLS AND LEPIDOPTEROUS LARVAE

The Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus alpha anti-insect toxin (Lqh alph a IT) cDNA was engineered into the Autographa californica Nuclear Poly hedrosis Virus (AcNPV) genome. Insect cells infected with the recombin ant virus secreted a functional Lqh alpha IT polypeptide. Spodoptera l ittoralis and Heliothis armigera larvae injected with recombinant budd ed virus, showed typical intoxication symptoms. This recombinant virus showed enhanced insecticidal potency against H. armigera larvae compa red with mild type AcNPV. The present expression system will facilitat e: (1) the future elucidation of structural elements involved in its p rominent anti-insect toxicity; and (2) the future design of geneticall y modified alpha toxins with improved anti-insect selectivity.