Molecular analysis of a novel gene cluster encoding an insect toxin in plant-associated strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens

Péchy-Tarr, M.; Bruck, D. J.; Maurhofer, M.; Fischer, Esther; Vogne, C.; Henkels, M. D.; Donahue, K. M.; Grunder, Jürg; Loper, J. E.; Keel, C.

doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01662.x

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Molecular analysis of a novel gene cluster encoding an insect toxin in plant-associated strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens
Authors:	Péchy-Tarr, M. Bruck, D. J. Maurhofer, M. Fischer, Esther Vogne, C. Henkels, M. D. Donahue, K. M. Grunder, Jürg Loper, J. E. Keel, C.
DOI:	10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01662.x
Published in:	Environmental Microbiology
Volume(Issue):	10
Issue:	9
Page(s):	2368
Pages to:	2386
Issue Date:	2008
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Wiley
ISSN:	1462-2920 1462-2912
Language:	English
Subjects:	Phytopathology; Bacterial toxin
Subject (DDC):	630: Agriculture
Abstract:	Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0 and the related strain Pf-5 are well-characterized representatives of rhizosphere bacteria that have the capacity to protect crop plants from fungal root diseases, mainly by releasing a variety of exoproducts that are toxic to plant pathogenic fungi. Here, we report that the two plant-beneficial pseudomonads also exhibit potent insecticidal activity. Anti-insect activity is linked to a novel genomic locus encoding a large protein toxin termed Fit (for P. fluorescensinsecticidal toxin) that is related to the insect toxin Mcf (Makes caterpillars floppy) of the entomopathogen Photorhabdus luminescens, a mutualist of insect-invading nematodes. When injected into the haemocoel, even low doses of P. fluorescens CHA0 or Pf-5 killed larvae of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta and the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella. In contrast, mutants of CHA0 or Pf-5 with deletions in the Fit toxin gene were significantly less virulent to the larvae. When expressed from an inducible promoter in a non-toxic Escherichia coli host, the Fit toxin gene was sufficient to render the bacterium toxic to both insect hosts. Our findings establish the Fit gene products of P. fluorescens CHA0 and Pf-5 as potent insect toxins that define previously unappreciated anti-insect properties of these plant-colonizing bacteria.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/7568
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	Life Sciences and Facility Management
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Life Sciences und Facility Management

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Péchy-Tarr, M., Bruck, D. J., Maurhofer, M., Fischer, E., Vogne, C., Henkels, M. D., Donahue, K. M., Grunder, J., Loper, J. E., & Keel, C. (2008). Molecular analysis of a novel gene cluster encoding an insect toxin in plant-associated strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens. Environmental Microbiology, 10(9), 2368–2386. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01662.x

Péchy-Tarr, M. et al. (2008) ‘Molecular analysis of a novel gene cluster encoding an insect toxin in plant-associated strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens’, Environmental Microbiology, 10(9), pp. 2368–2386. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01662.x.

M. Péchy-Tarr et al., “Molecular analysis of a novel gene cluster encoding an insect toxin in plant-associated strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens,” Environmental Microbiology, vol. 10, no. 9, pp. 2368–2386, 2008, doi: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01662.x.

PÉCHY-TARR, M., D. J. BRUCK, M. MAURHOFER, Esther FISCHER, C. VOGNE, M. D. HENKELS, K. M. DONAHUE, Jürg GRUNDER, J. E. LOPER und C. KEEL, 2008. Molecular analysis of a novel gene cluster encoding an insect toxin in plant-associated strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens. Environmental Microbiology. 2008. Bd. 10, Nr. 9, S. 2368–2386. DOI 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01662.x

Péchy-Tarr, M., D. J. Bruck, M. Maurhofer, Esther Fischer, C. Vogne, M. D. Henkels, K. M. Donahue, Jürg Grunder, J. E. Loper, and C. Keel. 2008. “Molecular Analysis of a Novel Gene Cluster Encoding an Insect Toxin in Plant-Associated Strains of Pseudomonas Fluorescens.” Environmental Microbiology 10 (9): 2368–86. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01662.x.

Péchy-Tarr, M., et al. “Molecular Analysis of a Novel Gene Cluster Encoding an Insect Toxin in Plant-Associated Strains of Pseudomonas Fluorescens.” Environmental Microbiology, vol. 10, no. 9, 2008, pp. 2368–86, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01662.x.