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Chemical Regulation of Bacillus Thuringiensis ∂-Endotoxin Expression in Transgenic Plants

Bio/Technology volume 10, pages 540–543 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

It has been suggested that widespread cultivation of transgenic crops that express high constitutive levels of the lepidopteran–specific Bacillus thuringiensis ∂–endotoxin will lead to selection for insects resistant to the toxin. As a possible method for managing the development of resistance, we have devised a system for temporally controlling the expression of the endotoxin. Tobacco plants harboring a toxin gene driven by a chemically–responsive promoter were treated with a chemical regulator. Chemical induction resulted in accumulation of toxin mRNA, and caused the plants to become insect tolerant. Such controllable gene expression in plants may find broad application in agriculture.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. John Rylas: Corresponding author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Biotechnology Research Unit, CIBA-GEIGY Corporation, P.O. Box 12257, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709

    Shericca Williams, Leslie Friedrich, Sandra Dincher, Nadine Carozzi, Eric Ward & John Rylas

  2. Agricultural Division, CIBA-GEIGY AG, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland

    Helmut Kessmann

Authors
  1. Shericca Williams
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  2. Leslie Friedrich
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  3. Sandra Dincher
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Williams, S., Friedrich, L., Dincher, S. et al. Chemical Regulation of Bacillus Thuringiensis ∂-Endotoxin Expression in Transgenic Plants. Nat Biotechnol 10, 540–543 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0592-540

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0592-540

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