PCR ANALYSIS OF THE CRYI INSECTICIDAL CRYSTAL FAMILY GENES FROM BACILLUS-THURINGIENSIS

A method allowing rapid and accurate identification of different subgr oups within the insecticidal crystal CryI protein-producing family of Bacillus thuringiensis strains was established by using PCR technology . Thirteen highly homologous primers specific to regions within genes encoding seven different subgroups of B. thuringiensis CryI proteins w ere described. Differentiation among these strains was determined on t he basis of the electrophoretic patterns of PCR products. B. thuringie nsis strains, isolated from soil samples, were analyzed by PCR technol ogy. Small amounts of bacterial lysates were assayed in two reaction m ixtures containing six to eight primers. This method can be applied to rapidly detect the subgroups of CryI proteins that correspond with to xicity to various lepidopteran insects.