1
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Henkel A, Oberthür D. A snapshot love story: what serial crystallography has done and will do for us. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2024; 80:563-579. [PMID: 38984902 PMCID: PMC11301758 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798324005588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Serial crystallography, born from groundbreaking experiments at the Linac Coherent Light Source in 2009, has evolved into a pivotal technique in structural biology. Initially pioneered at X-ray free-electron laser facilities, it has now expanded to synchrotron-radiation facilities globally, with dedicated experimental stations enhancing its accessibility. This review gives an overview of current developments in serial crystallography, emphasizing recent results in time-resolved crystallography, and discussing challenges and shortcomings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Henkel
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFELDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESYNotkestr. 8522607HamburgGermany
| | - Dominik Oberthür
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFELDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESYNotkestr. 8522607HamburgGermany
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2
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Deng SQ, Li N, Yang XK, Lu HZ, Liu JH, Peng ZY, Wang LM, Zhang M, Zhang C, Chen C. Recombinant Beauveria bassiana expressing Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cyt1Aa: a promising approach for enhancing Aedes mosquito control. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0379223. [PMID: 38809029 PMCID: PMC11218515 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03792-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana provides an eco-friendly substitute to chemical insecticides for mosquito control. Nevertheless, its widespread application has been hindered by its comparatively slow efficacy in eliminating mosquitoes. To augment the potency of B. bassiana against Aedes mosquitoes, a novel recombinant strain, Bb-Cyt1Aa, was developed by incorporating the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin gene Cyt1Aa into B. bassiana. The virulence of Bb-Cyt1Aa was evaluated against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus using insect bioassays. Compared to the wild-type (WT) strain, the median lethal time (LT50) for A. aegypti larvae infected with Bb-Cyt1Aa decreased by 33.3% at a concentration of 1 × 108 conidia/mL and by 22.2% at 1 × 107 conidia/mL. The LT50 for A. aegypti adults infected with Bb-Cyt1Aa through conidia ingestion was reduced by 37.5% at 1 × 108 conidia/mL and by 33.3% at 1 × 107 conidia/mL. Likewise, the LT50 for A. aegypti adults infected with Bb-Cyt1Aa through cuticle contact decreased by 33.3% and 30.8% at the same concentrations, respectively. Furthermore, the Bb-Cyt1Aa strain also demonstrated increased toxicity against both larval and adult A. albopictus, when compared to the WT strain. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the expression of B. thuringiensis toxin Cyt1Aa in B. bassiana enhanced its virulence against Aedes mosquitoes. This suggests that B. bassiana expressing Cyt1Aa has potential value for use in mosquito control. IMPORTANCE Beauveria bassiana is a naturally occurring fungus that can be utilized as a bioinsecticide against mosquitoes. Cyt1Aa is a delta-endotoxin protein produced by Bacillus thuringiensis that exhibits specific and potent insecticidal activity against mosquitoes. In our study, the expression of this toxin Cyt1Aa in B. bassiana enhances the virulence of B. bassiana against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, thereby increasing their effectiveness in killing mosquitoes. This novel strain can be used alongside chemical insecticides to reduce dependence on harmful chemicals, thereby minimizing negative impacts on the environment and human health. Additionally, the potential resistance of B. bassiana against mosquitoes in the future could be overcome by acquiring novel combinations of exogenous toxin genes. The presence of B. bassiana that expresses Cyt1Aa is of significant importance in mosquito control as it enhances genetic diversity, creates novel virulent strains, and contributes to the development of safer and more sustainable methods of mosquito control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Qun Deng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ni Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xu-Ke Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hong-Zheng Lu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jia-Hua Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhe-Yu Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lin-Min Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Mao Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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3
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Miranda LS, Rudd SR, Mena O, Hudspeth PE, Barboza-Corona JE, Park HW, Bideshi DK. The Perpetual Vector Mosquito Threat and Its Eco-Friendly Nemeses. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:182. [PMID: 38534451 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are the most notorious arthropod vectors of viral and parasitic diseases for which approximately half the world's population, ~4,000,000,000, is at risk. Integrated pest management programs (IPMPs) have achieved some success in mitigating the regional transmission and persistence of these diseases. However, as many vector-borne diseases remain pervasive, it is obvious that IPMP successes have not been absolute in eradicating the threat imposed by mosquitoes. Moreover, the expanding mosquito geographic ranges caused by factors related to climate change and globalization (travel, trade, and migration), and the evolution of resistance to synthetic pesticides, present ongoing challenges to reducing or eliminating the local and global burden of these diseases, especially in economically and medically disadvantaged societies. Abatement strategies include the control of vector populations with synthetic pesticides and eco-friendly technologies. These "green" technologies include SIT, IIT, RIDL, CRISPR/Cas9 gene drive, and biological control that specifically targets the aquatic larval stages of mosquitoes. Regarding the latter, the most effective continues to be the widespread use of Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Ls) and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti). Here, we present a review of the health issues elicited by vector mosquitoes, control strategies, and lastly, focus on the biology of Ls and Bti, with an emphasis on the latter, to which no resistance has been observed in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Silva Miranda
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - Sarah Renee Rudd
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
- Integrated Biomedical Graduate Studies, and School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Oscar Mena
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - Piper Eden Hudspeth
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - José E Barboza-Corona
- Departmento de Alimentos, Posgrado en Biociencias, Universidad de Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato 36500, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Hyun-Woo Park
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - Dennis Ken Bideshi
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
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4
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Tanaka J, Abe S, Hayakawa T, Kojima M, Yamashita K, Hirata K, Ueno T. Crystal structure of the in-cell Cry1Aa purified from Bacillus thuringiensis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 685:149144. [PMID: 37922785 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
In-cell protein crystals which spontaneously crystallize in living cells, have recently been analyzed in investigations of their structures and biological functions. The crystals have been challenging to analyze structurally because of their small size. Therefore, the number of in-cell protein crystals in which the native structure has been determined is limited because most of the structures of in-cell crystals have been determined by recrystallization after dissolution. Some proteins have been reported to form intermolecular disulfide bonds in natural protein crystals that stabilize the crystals. Here, we focus on Cry1Aa, a cysteine-rich protein that crystallizes in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and forms disulfide bonds. Previously, the full-length structure of 135 kDa Cry1Ac, which is the same size as Cry1Aa, was determined by recrystallization of dissolved protein from crystals purified from Bt cells. However, the formation of disulfide bonds has not been investigated because it was necessary to replace cysteine residues to prevent aggregation of the soluble protein. In this work, we succeeded in direct X-ray crystallographic analysis using crystals purified from Bt cells and characterized the cross-linked network of disulfide bonds within Cry1Aa crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Tanaka
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan
| | - Satoshi Abe
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan.
| | - Tohru Hayakawa
- Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
| | - Mariko Kojima
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan
| | - Keitaro Yamashita
- SR Life Science Instrumentation Unit, RIKEN/SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Kunio Hirata
- SR Life Science Instrumentation Unit, RIKEN/SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo, 679-5148, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ueno
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan; Living Systems Materialogy (LiSM) Research Group, International Research Frontiers Initiative (IRFI), Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan.
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5
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Williamson LJ, Galchenkova M, Best HL, Bean RJ, Munke A, Awel S, Pena G, Knoska J, Schubert R, Dörner K, Park HW, Bideshi DK, Henkel A, Kremling V, Klopprogge B, Lloyd-Evans E, Young MT, Valerio J, Kloos M, Sikorski M, Mills G, Bielecki J, Kirkwood H, Kim C, de Wijn R, Lorenzen K, Xavier PL, Rahmani Mashhour A, Gelisio L, Yefanov O, Mancuso AP, Federici BA, Chapman HN, Crickmore N, Rizkallah PJ, Berry C, Oberthür D. Structure of the Lysinibacillus sphaericus Tpp49Aa1 pesticidal protein elucidated from natural crystals using MHz-SFX. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2203241120. [PMID: 38015839 PMCID: PMC10710082 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2203241120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The Lysinibacillus sphaericus proteins Tpp49Aa1 and Cry48Aa1 can together act as a toxin toward the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus and have potential use in biocontrol. Given that proteins with sequence homology to the individual proteins can have activity alone against other insect species, the structure of Tpp49Aa1 was solved in order to understand this protein more fully and inform the design of improved biopesticides. Tpp49Aa1 is naturally expressed as a crystalline inclusion within the host bacterium, and MHz serial femtosecond crystallography using the novel nanofocus option at an X-ray free electron laser allowed rapid and high-quality data collection to determine the structure of Tpp49Aa1 at 1.62 Å resolution. This revealed the packing of Tpp49Aa1 within these natural nanocrystals as a homodimer with a large intermolecular interface. Complementary experiments conducted at varied pH also enabled investigation of the early structural events leading up to the dissolution of natural Tpp49Aa1 crystals-a crucial step in its mechanism of action. To better understand the cooperation between the two proteins, assays were performed on a range of different mosquito cell lines using both individual proteins and mixtures of the two. Finally, bioassays demonstrated Tpp49Aa1/Cry48Aa1 susceptibility of Anopheles stephensi, Aedes albopictus, and Culex tarsalis larvae-substantially increasing the potential use of this binary toxin in mosquito control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina Galchenkova
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hannah L. Best
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anna Munke
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | - Salah Awel
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gisel Pena
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | - Juraj Knoska
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Hyun-Woo Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA92504
| | - Dennis K. Bideshi
- Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA92504
| | - Alessandra Henkel
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | - Viviane Kremling
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bjarne Klopprogge
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | - Emyr Lloyd-Evans
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Mark T. Young
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | | | - Marco Kloos
- European XFEL GmbH, 22869Schenefeld, Germany
| | | | - Grant Mills
- European XFEL GmbH, 22869Schenefeld, Germany
| | | | | | - Chan Kim
- European XFEL GmbH, 22869Schenefeld, Germany
| | | | | | - Paul Lourdu Xavier
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
- Max-Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, 22761Hamburg, Germany
| | - Aida Rahmani Mashhour
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | - Luca Gelisio
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | - Oleksandr Yefanov
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | - Adrian P. Mancuso
- European XFEL GmbH, 22869Schenefeld, Germany
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC3086, Australia
| | - Brian A. Federici
- Department of Entomology and Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA92521
| | - Henry N. Chapman
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, 22761Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, 22761Hamburg, Germany
| | - Neil Crickmore
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BrightonBN1 9QG, United Kingdom
| | | | - Colin Berry
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Dominik Oberthür
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607Hamburg, Germany
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6
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Torres J, Surya W, Boonserm P. Channel Formation in Cry Toxins: An Alphafold-2 Perspective. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16809. [PMID: 38069132 PMCID: PMC10705909 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains produce pore-forming toxins (PFTs) that attack insect pests. Information for pre-pore and pore structures of some of these Bt toxins is available. However, for the three-domain (I-III) crystal (Cry) toxins, the most used Bt toxins in pest control, this crucial information is still missing. In these Cry toxins, biochemical data have shown that 7-helix domain I is involved in insertion in membranes, oligomerization and formation of a channel lined mainly by helix α4, whereas helices α1 to α3 seem to have a dynamic role during insertion. In the case of Cry1Aa, toxic against Manduca sexta larvae, a tetrameric oligomer seems to precede membrane insertion. Given the experimental difficulty in the elucidation of the membrane insertion steps, we used Alphafold-2 (AF2) to shed light on possible oligomeric structural intermediates in the membrane insertion of this toxin. AF2 very accurately (<1 Å RMSD) predicted the crystal monomeric and trimeric structures of Cry1Aa and Cry4Ba. The prediction of a tetramer of Cry1Aa, but not Cry4Ba, produced an 'extended model' where domain I helices α3 and α2b form a continuous helix and where hydrophobic helices α1 and α2 cluster at the tip of the bundle. We hypothesize that this represents an intermediate that binds the membrane and precedes α4/α5 hairpin insertion, together with helices α6 and α7. Another Cry1Aa tetrameric model was predicted after deleting helices α1 to α3, where domain I produced a central cavity consistent with an ion channel, lined by polar and charged residues in helix α4. We propose that this second model corresponds to the 'membrane-inserted' structure. AF2 also predicted larger α4/α5 hairpin n-mers (14 ≤n ≤ 17) with high confidence, which formed even larger (~5 nm) pores. The plausibility of these models is discussed in the context of available experimental data and current paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaume Torres
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Wahyu Surya
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Panadda Boonserm
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand;
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7
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Rudd SR, Miranda LS, Curtis HR, Bigot Y, Diaz-Mendoza M, Hice R, Nizet V, Park HW, Blaha G, Federici BA, Bideshi DK. The Parasporal Body of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis: A Unique Phage Capsid-Associated Prokaryotic Insecticidal Organelle. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1421. [PMID: 37998020 PMCID: PMC10669011 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The three most important commercial bacterial insecticides are all derived from subspecies of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Specifically, Bt subsp. kurstaki (Btk) and Bt subsp. aizawai (Bta) are used to control larval lepidopteran pests. The third, Bt subsp. israelensis (Bti), is primarily used to control mosquito and blackfly larvae. All three subspecies produce a parasporal body (PB) during sporulation. The PB is composed of insecticidal proteins that damage the midgut epithelium, initiating a complex process that results in the death of the insect. Among these three subspecies of Bt, Bti is unique as it produces the most complex PB consisting of three compartments. Each compartment is bound by a multilaminar fibrous matrix (MFM). Two compartments contain one protein each, Cry11Aa1 and Cyt1Aa1, while the third contains two, Cry4Aa1/Cry4Ba1. Each compartment is packaged independently before coalescing into the mature spherical PB held together by additional layers of the MFM. This distinctive packaging process is unparalleled among known bacterial organelles, although the underlying molecular biology is yet to be determined. Here, we present structural and molecular evidence that the MFM has a hexagonal pattern to which Bti proteins Bt152 and Bt075 bind. Bt152 binds to a defined spot on the MFM during the development of each compartment, yet its function remains unknown. Bt075 appears to be derived from a bacteriophage major capsid protein (MCP), and though its sequence has markedly diverged, it shares striking 3-D structural similarity to the Escherichia coli phage HK97 Head 1 capsid protein. Both proteins are encoded on Bti's pBtoxis plasmid. Additionally, we have also identified a six-amino acid motif that appears to be part of a novel molecular process responsible for targeting the Cry and Cyt proteins to their cytoplasmic compartments. This paper describes several previously unknown features of the Bti organelle, representing a first step to understanding the biology of a unique process of sorting and packaging of proteins into PBs. The insights from this research suggest a potential for future applications in nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Rudd
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA; (S.R.R.); (L.S.M.); (H.R.C.); (H.-W.P.)
- School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Leticia Silva Miranda
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA; (S.R.R.); (L.S.M.); (H.R.C.); (H.-W.P.)
| | - Hannah R. Curtis
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA; (S.R.R.); (L.S.M.); (H.R.C.); (H.-W.P.)
- School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Yves Bigot
- UMR CNRS7247, Centre INRA Val de Loire, 37380 Nouzilly, France;
| | - Mercedes Diaz-Mendoza
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University Complutense of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Robert Hice
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Victor Nizet
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Hyun-Woo Park
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA; (S.R.R.); (L.S.M.); (H.R.C.); (H.-W.P.)
| | - Gregor Blaha
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Brian A. Federici
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Dennis K. Bideshi
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA; (S.R.R.); (L.S.M.); (H.R.C.); (H.-W.P.)
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8
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Botha S, Fromme P. Review of serial femtosecond crystallography including the COVID-19 pandemic impact and future outlook. Structure 2023; 31:1306-1319. [PMID: 37898125 PMCID: PMC10842180 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) revolutionized macromolecular crystallography over the past decade by enabling the collection of X-ray diffraction data from nano- or micrometer sized crystals while outrunning structure-altering radiation damage effects at room temperature. The serial manner of data collection from millions of individual crystals coupled with the femtosecond duration of the ultrabright X-ray pulses enables time-resolved studies of macromolecules under near-physiological conditions to unprecedented temporal resolution. In 2020 the rapid spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 resulted in a global pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019. This led to a shift in how serial femtosecond experiments were performed, along with rapid funding and free electron laser beamtime availability dedicated to SARS-CoV-2-related studies. This review outlines the current state of SFX research, the milestones that were achieved, the impact of the global pandemic on this field as well as an outlook into exciting future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Botha
- Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-5001, USA; Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504, USA.
| | - Petra Fromme
- Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-5001, USA; School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, USA.
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9
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Bhowmick A, Simon PS, Bogacz I, Hussein R, Zhang M, Makita H, Ibrahim M, Chatterjee R, Doyle MD, Cheah MH, Chernev P, Fuller FD, Fransson T, Alonso-Mori R, Brewster AS, Sauter NK, Bergmann U, Dobbek H, Zouni A, Messinger J, Kern J, Yachandra VK, Yano J. Going around the Kok cycle of the water oxidation reaction with femtosecond X-ray crystallography. IUCRJ 2023; 10:642-655. [PMID: 37870936 PMCID: PMC10619448 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252523008928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The water oxidation reaction in photosystem II (PS II) produces most of the molecular oxygen in the atmosphere, which sustains life on Earth, and in this process releases four electrons and four protons that drive the downstream process of CO2 fixation in the photosynthetic apparatus. The catalytic center of PS II is an oxygen-bridged Mn4Ca complex (Mn4CaO5) which is progressively oxidized upon the absorption of light by the chlorophyll of the PS II reaction center, and the accumulation of four oxidative equivalents in the catalytic center results in the oxidation of two waters to dioxygen in the last step. The recent emergence of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) with intense femtosecond X-ray pulses has opened up opportunities to visualize this reaction in PS II as it proceeds through the catalytic cycle. In this review, we summarize our recent studies of the catalytic reaction in PS II by following the structural changes along the reaction pathway via room-temperature X-ray crystallography using XFELs. The evolution of the electron density changes at the Mn complex reveals notable structural changes, including the insertion of OX from a new water molecule, which disappears on completion of the reaction, implicating it in the O-O bond formation reaction. We were also able to follow the structural dynamics of the protein coordinating with the catalytic complex and of channels within the protein that are important for substrate and product transport, revealing well orchestrated conformational changes in response to the electronic changes at the Mn4Ca cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmit Bhowmick
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Philipp S. Simon
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Isabel Bogacz
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Rana Hussein
- Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany
| | - Miao Zhang
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Hiroki Makita
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mohamed Ibrahim
- Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ruchira Chatterjee
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Margaret D. Doyle
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mun Hon Cheah
- Molecular Biomimetics, Department of Chemistry- Ångström, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE 75120, Sweden
| | - Petko Chernev
- Molecular Biomimetics, Department of Chemistry- Ångström, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE 75120, Sweden
| | - Franklin D. Fuller
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Thomas Fransson
- Department of Physics, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-10691, Sweden
| | - Roberto Alonso-Mori
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Aaron S. Brewster
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Nicholas K. Sauter
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Uwe Bergmann
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Holger Dobbek
- Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany
| | - Athina Zouni
- Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Messinger
- Molecular Biomimetics, Department of Chemistry- Ångström, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE 75120, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå SE 90187, Sweden
| | - Jan Kern
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Vittal K. Yachandra
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Junko Yano
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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10
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Šolinc G, Anderluh G, Podobnik M. Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cyt2Aa forms filamentous oligomers when exposed to lipid membranes or detergents. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 674:44-52. [PMID: 37393643 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.06.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces insecticidal proteins during the sporulation phase. These proteins are located in parasporal crystals consisting of two delta-endotoxin classes, crystal (Cry) and cytolytic (Cyt) toxins. In vitro, Cyt toxins show cytolytic activity against bacterial and a variety of insect and mammalian cells. They bind to cell membranes with unsaturated phospholipids and sphingomyelin. Although Bt and its parasporal crystals containing both Cry and Cyt toxins have been successfully used as bioinsecticides, the molecular mechanism of action of Cyt toxins is not yet fully understood. To address this, we exposed Cyt2Aa to lipid membranes and visualized membrane disruption process using cryo-electron microscopy. We observed two types of Cyt2Aa oligomers. First, Cyt2Aa forms smaller curved oligomers on the membrane surface that become linear over time, and detach when the membrane ruptures. Similar linear filamentous oligomers were also formed by Cyt2Aa in the presence of detergents without prior exposure to lipid membranes, which exhibited attenuated cytolytic activity. Furthermore, our data suggest that Cyt2Aa adopts different conformations between its monomeric and oligomeric forms. Overall, our results provide new evidence for a detergent-like mechanism of action of Cyt2Aa rather than the pore-forming model of target membrane disruption of this important class of insecticidal proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gašper Šolinc
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Gregor Anderluh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Marjetka Podobnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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11
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Ishigami I, Sierra RG, Su Z, Peck A, Wang C, Poitevin F, Lisova S, Hayes B, Moss FR, Boutet S, Sublett RE, Yoon CH, Yeh SR, Rousseau DL. Structural insights into functional properties of the oxidized form of cytochrome c oxidase. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5752. [PMID: 37717031 PMCID: PMC10505203 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41533-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is an essential enzyme in mitochondrial and bacterial respiration. It catalyzes the four-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water and harnesses the chemical energy to translocate four protons across biological membranes. The turnover of the CcO reaction involves an oxidative phase, in which the reduced enzyme (R) is oxidized to the metastable OH state, and a reductive phase, in which OH is reduced back to the R state. During each phase, two protons are translocated across the membrane. However, if OH is allowed to relax to the resting oxidized state (O), a redox equivalent to OH, its subsequent reduction to R is incapable of driving proton translocation. Here, with resonance Raman spectroscopy and serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography (SFX), we show that the heme a3 iron and CuB in the active site of the O state, like those in the OH state, are coordinated by a hydroxide ion and a water molecule, respectively. However, Y244, critical for the oxygen reduction chemistry, is in the neutral protonated form, which distinguishes O from OH, where Y244 is in the deprotonated tyrosinate form. These structural characteristics of O provide insights into the proton translocation mechanism of CcO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izumi Ishigami
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Raymond G Sierra
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Zhen Su
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ariana Peck
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Cong Wang
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Frederic Poitevin
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Stella Lisova
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Brandon Hayes
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Frank R Moss
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
- Altos Labs, Redwood City, CA, 94065, USA
| | - Sébastien Boutet
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Robert E Sublett
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Chun Hong Yoon
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Syun-Ru Yeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Denis L Rousseau
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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12
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Mouawad C, Awad MK, Liegeois S, Ferrandon D, Sanchis-Borja V, El Chamy L. The NF-κB factor Relish is essential for the epithelial defenses protecting against δ-endotoxin dependent effects of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis infection in the Drosophila model. Res Microbiol 2023; 174:104089. [PMID: 37348743 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is largely regarded as the most selective, safe and ecofriendly biopesticide used for the control of insect vectors of human diseases. Bti enthomopathogenicity relies on the Cry and Cyt δ-endotoxins, produced as crystalline inclusions during sporulation. Insecticidal selectivity of Bti is mainly ascribed to the binding of the Cry toxins to receptors in the gut of target insects. However, the contribution of epithelial defenses in limiting Bti side effects in non-target species remains largely unexplored. Here, taking advantage of the genetically tractable Drosophila melanogaster model and its amenability for deciphering highly conserved innate immune defenses, we unravel a central role of the NF-κB factor Relish in the protection against the effects of ingested Bti spores in a non-susceptible host. Intriguingly, our data indicate that the Bti-induced Relish response is independent of its canonical activation downstream of peptidoglycan sensing and does not involve its longstanding role in the regulation of antimicrobial peptides encoding genes. In contrast, our data highlight a novel enterocyte specific function of Relish that is essential for preventing general septicemia following Bti oral infections strictly when producing δ-endotoxins. Altogether, our data provide novel insights into Bti-hosts interactions of prominent interest for the optimization and sustainability of insects' biocontrol strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine Mouawad
- Unité de Recherche Environnement, Génomique et Protéomique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth-Liban, Mar Roukos, Mkalles, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Mireille Kallassy Awad
- Unité de Recherche Environnement, Génomique et Protéomique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth-Liban, Mar Roukos, Mkalles, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Samuel Liegeois
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Modèles Insectes de l'Immunité Innée, UPR 9022 du CNRS, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Dominique Ferrandon
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Modèles Insectes de l'Immunité Innée, UPR 9022 du CNRS, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Vincent Sanchis-Borja
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Laure El Chamy
- Unité de Recherche Environnement, Génomique et Protéomique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth-Liban, Mar Roukos, Mkalles, Beirut, Lebanon.
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13
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Ishigami I, Sierra RG, Su Z, Peck A, Wang C, Poitevin F, Lisova S, Hayes B, Moss FR, Boutet S, Sublett RE, Yoon CH, Yeh SR, Rousseau DL. Structural basis for functional properties of cytochrome c oxidase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.20.530986. [PMID: 36993562 PMCID: PMC10055264 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.20.530986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is an essential enzyme in mitochondrial and bacterial respiration. It catalyzes the four-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water and harnesses the chemical energy to translocate four protons across biological membranes, thereby establishing the proton gradient required for ATP synthesis1. The full turnover of the CcO reaction involves an oxidative phase, in which the reduced enzyme (R) is oxidized by molecular oxygen to the metastable oxidized OH state, and a reductive phase, in which OH is reduced back to the R state. During each of the two phases, two protons are translocated across the membranes2. However, if OH is allowed to relax to the resting oxidized state (O), a redox equivalent to OH, its subsequent reduction to R is incapable of driving proton translocation2,3. How the O state structurally differs from OH remains an enigma in modern bioenergetics. Here, with resonance Raman spectroscopy and serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography (SFX)4, we show that the heme a3 iron and CuB in the active site of the O state, like those in the OH state5,6, are coordinated by a hydroxide ion and a water molecule, respectively. However, Y244, a residue covalently linked to one of the three CuB ligands and critical for the oxygen reduction chemistry, is in the neutral protonated form, which distinguishes O from OH, where Y244 is in the deprotonated tyrosinate form. These structural characteristics of O provide new insights into the proton translocation mechanism of CcO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izumi Ishigami
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Raymond G. Sierra
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Zhen Su
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Ariana Peck
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Cong Wang
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Frederic Poitevin
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Stella Lisova
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Brandon Hayes
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Frank R. Moss
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Sébastien Boutet
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Robert E. Sublett
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Chun Hong Yoon
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Syun-Ru Yeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Denis L. Rousseau
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
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14
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Tangsongcharoen C, Toca-Herrera JL, Promdonkoy B, Tharad S. Mutation of a Threonine Residue in αD-β4 Loop of Cyt2Aa2 Protein Influences Binding on Fluid Lipid Membranes. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:167. [PMID: 36828480 PMCID: PMC9967203 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15020167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyt proteins are insecticidal proteins originally from Bacillus thuringiensis. The lipid binding of the Cyt2Aa2 protein depends on the phase of the lipid bilayer. In this work, the importance of the conserved T144 residue in the αD-β4 loop for lipid binding on fluid lipid membranes was investigated via atomic force microscopy (AFM). Lipid membrane fluidity could be monitored for the following lipid mixture systems: POPC/DPPC, POPC/SM, and DOPC/SM. AFM results revealed that the T144A mutant was unable to bind to pure POPC bilayers. Similar topography between the wildtype and T144A mutant was seen for the POPC/Chol system. Small aggregates of T144A mutant were observed in the POPC and DOPC domains of the lipid mixture systems. In addition, the T144A mutant had no cytotoxic effect against human colon cancer cells. These results suggest that alanine replacement into threonine 144 hinders the binding of Cyt2Aa2 on liquid lipid membranes. These observations provide a possibility to modify the Cyt2Aa2 protein to specific cells via lipid phase selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jose L. Toca-Herrera
- Institute of Biophysics, Department of Nanobiotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Boonhiang Promdonkoy
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
| | - Sudarat Tharad
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131, Thailand
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15
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Cell-free protein crystallization for nanocrystal structure determination. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16031. [PMID: 36192567 PMCID: PMC9530169 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19681-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In-cell protein crystallization (ICPC) has been investigated as a technique to support the advancement of structural biology because it does not require protein purification and a complicated crystallization process. However, only a few protein structures have been reported because these crystals formed incidentally in living cells and are insufficient in size and quality for structure analysis. Here, we have developed a cell-free protein crystallization (CFPC) method, which involves direct protein crystallization using cell-free protein synthesis. We have succeeded in crystallization and structure determination of nano-sized polyhedra crystal (PhC) at a high resolution of 1.80 Å. Furthermore, nanocrystals were synthesized at a reaction scale of only 20 μL using the dialysis method, enabling structural analysis at a resolution of 1.95 Å. To further demonstrate the potential of CFPC, we attempted to determine the structure of crystalline inclusion protein A (CipA), whose structure had not yet been determined. We added chemical reagents as a twinning inhibitor to the CFPC solution, which enabled us to determine the structure of CipA at 2.11 Å resolution. This technology greatly expands the high-throughput structure determination method of unstable, low-yield, fusion, and substrate-biding proteins that have been difficult to analyze with conventional methods.
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16
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Barends TR, Stauch B, Cherezov V, Schlichting I. Serial femtosecond crystallography. NATURE REVIEWS. METHODS PRIMERS 2022; 2:59. [PMID: 36643971 PMCID: PMC9833121 DOI: 10.1038/s43586-022-00141-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
With the advent of X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs), new, high-throughput serial crystallography techniques for macromolecular structure determination have emerged. Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) and related methods provide possibilities beyond canonical, single-crystal rotation crystallography by mitigating radiation damage and allowing time-resolved studies with unprecedented temporal resolution. This primer aims to assist structural biology groups with little or no experience in serial crystallography planning and carrying out a successful SFX experiment. It discusses the background of serial crystallography and its possibilities. Microcrystal growth and characterization methods are discussed, alongside techniques for sample delivery and data processing. Moreover, it gives practical tips for preparing an experiment, what to consider and do during a beamtime and how to conduct the final data analysis. Finally, the Primer looks at various applications of SFX, including structure determination of membrane proteins, investigation of radiation damage-prone systems and time-resolved studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R.M. Barends
- Department for Biological Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Stauch
- Department of Chemistry, The Bridge Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vadim Cherezov
- Department of Chemistry, The Bridge Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ilme Schlichting
- Department for Biological Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany,
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17
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Tetreau G, Sawaya MR, De Zitter E, Andreeva EA, Banneville AS, Schibrowsky NA, Coquelle N, Brewster AS, Grünbein ML, Kovacs GN, Hunter MS, Kloos M, Sierra RG, Schiro G, Qiao P, Stricker M, Bideshi D, Young ID, Zala N, Engilberge S, Gorel A, Signor L, Teulon JM, Hilpert M, Foucar L, Bielecki J, Bean R, de Wijn R, Sato T, Kirkwood H, Letrun R, Batyuk A, Snigireva I, Fenel D, Schubert R, Canfield EJ, Alba MM, Laporte F, Després L, Bacia M, Roux A, Chapelle C, Riobé F, Maury O, Ling WL, Boutet S, Mancuso A, Gutsche I, Girard E, Barends TRM, Pellequer JL, Park HW, Laganowsky AD, Rodriguez J, Burghammer M, Shoeman RL, Doak RB, Weik M, Sauter NK, Federici B, Cascio D, Schlichting I, Colletier JP. De novo determination of mosquitocidal Cry11Aa and Cry11Ba structures from naturally-occurring nanocrystals. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4376. [PMID: 35902572 PMCID: PMC9334358 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31746-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Cry11Aa and Cry11Ba are the two most potent toxins produced by mosquitocidal Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis and jegathesan, respectively. The toxins naturally crystallize within the host; however, the crystals are too small for structure determination at synchrotron sources. Therefore, we applied serial femtosecond crystallography at X-ray free electron lasers to in vivo-grown nanocrystals of these toxins. The structure of Cry11Aa was determined de novo using the single-wavelength anomalous dispersion method, which in turn enabled the determination of the Cry11Ba structure by molecular replacement. The two structures reveal a new pattern for in vivo crystallization of Cry toxins, whereby each of their three domains packs with a symmetrically identical domain, and a cleavable crystal packing motif is located within the protoxin rather than at the termini. The diversity of in vivo crystallization patterns suggests explanations for their varied levels of toxicity and rational approaches to improve these toxins for mosquito control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Tetreau
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Michael R Sawaya
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1570, USA
| | - Elke De Zitter
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Elena A Andreeva
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne-Sophie Banneville
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Natalie A Schibrowsky
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1570, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Nicolas Coquelle
- Large-Scale Structures Group, Institut Laue-Langevin, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Aaron S Brewster
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Marie Luise Grünbein
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gabriela Nass Kovacs
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark S Hunter
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Marco Kloos
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Raymond G Sierra
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Giorgio Schiro
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Pei Qiao
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Myriam Stricker
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dennis Bideshi
- Department of Entomology and Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA, 92504, USA
| | - Iris D Young
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ninon Zala
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Sylvain Engilberge
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Alexander Gorel
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luca Signor
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Jean-Marie Teulon
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Mario Hilpert
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lutz Foucar
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johan Bielecki
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Richard Bean
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Raphael de Wijn
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Tokushi Sato
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Henry Kirkwood
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Romain Letrun
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Alexander Batyuk
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Irina Snigireva
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), BP 220, 38043, Grenoble, France
| | - Daphna Fenel
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Robin Schubert
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Ethan J Canfield
- Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Mario M Alba
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | | | | | - Maria Bacia
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Amandine Roux
- Univ. Lyon, ENS de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5182, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire de Chimie, F-69342, Lyon, France
| | | | - François Riobé
- Univ. Lyon, ENS de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5182, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire de Chimie, F-69342, Lyon, France
| | - Olivier Maury
- Univ. Lyon, ENS de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5182, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire de Chimie, F-69342, Lyon, France
| | - Wai Li Ling
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Sébastien Boutet
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Adrian Mancuso
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Irina Gutsche
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Eric Girard
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Thomas R M Barends
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jean-Luc Pellequer
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Hyun-Woo Park
- Department of Entomology and Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA, 92504, USA
| | - Arthur D Laganowsky
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Jose Rodriguez
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1570, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Manfred Burghammer
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), BP 220, 38043, Grenoble, France
| | - Robert L Shoeman
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R Bruce Doak
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Weik
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Nicholas K Sauter
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Brian Federici
- Department of Entomology and Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Duilio Cascio
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1570, USA
| | - Ilme Schlichting
- Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jacques-Philippe Colletier
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France.
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18
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Bacterial Toxins Active against Mosquitoes: Mode of Action and Resistance. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13080523. [PMID: 34437394 PMCID: PMC8402332 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13080523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Larvicides based on the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis svar. israelensis (Bti) and Lysinibacillus sphaericus are effective and environmentally safe compounds for the control of dipteran insects of medical importance. They produce crystals that display specific and potent insecticidal activity against larvae. Bti crystals are composed of multiple protoxins: three from the three-domain Cry type family, which bind to different cell receptors in the midgut, and one cytolytic (Cyt1Aa) protoxin that can insert itself into the cell membrane and act as surrogate receptor of the Cry toxins. Together, those toxins display a complex mode of action that shows a low risk of resistance selection. L. sphaericus crystals contain one major binary toxin that display an outstanding persistence in field conditions, which is superior to Bti. However, the action of the Bin toxin based on its interaction with a single receptor is vulnerable for resistance selection in insects. In this review we present the most recent data on the mode of action and synergism of these toxins, resistance issues, and examples of their use worldwide. Data reported in recent years improved our understanding of the mechanism of action of these toxins, showed that their combined use can enhance their activity and counteract resistance, and reinforced their relevance for mosquito control programs in the future years.
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19
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Tetreau G, Andreeva EA, Banneville AS, De Zitter E, Colletier JP. Can (We Make) Bacillus thuringiensis Crystallize More Than Its Toxins? Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13070441. [PMID: 34206749 PMCID: PMC8309801 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13070441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of finely tuned and reliable crystallization processes to obtain crystalline formulations of proteins has received growing interest from different scientific fields, including toxinology and structural biology, as well as from industry, notably for biotechnological and medical applications. As a natural crystal-making bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has evolved through millions of years to produce hundreds of highly structurally diverse pesticidal proteins as micrometer-sized crystals. The long-term stability of Bt protein crystals in aqueous environments and their specific and controlled dissolution are characteristics that are particularly sought after. In this article, we explore whether the crystallization machinery of Bt can be hijacked as a means to produce (micro)crystalline formulations of proteins for three different applications: (i) to develop new bioinsecticidal formulations based on rationally improved crystalline toxins, (ii) to functionalize crystals with specific characteristics for biotechnological and medical applications, and (iii) to produce microcrystals of custom proteins for structural biology. By developing the needs of these different fields to figure out if and how Bt could meet each specific requirement, we discuss the already published and/or patented attempts and provide guidelines for future investigations in some underexplored yet promising domains.
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20
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How Does Bacillus thuringiensis Crystallize Such a Large Diversity of Toxins? Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13070443. [PMID: 34206796 PMCID: PMC8309854 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13070443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a natural crystal-making bacterium. Bt diversified into many subspecies that have evolved to produce crystals of hundreds of pesticidal proteins with radically different structures. Their crystalline form ensures stability and controlled release of these major virulence factors. They are responsible for the toxicity and host specificity of Bt, explaining its worldwide use as a biological insecticide. Most research has been devoted to understanding the mechanisms of toxicity of these toxins while the features driving their crystallization have long remained elusive, essentially due to technical limitations. The evolution of methods in structural biology, pushing back the limits in size of amenable protein crystals now allows access to be gained to structural information hidden within natural crystals of such toxins. In this review, we present the main parameters that have been identified as key drivers of toxin crystallization in Bt, notably in the light of recent discoveries driven by structural biology studies. Then, we develop how the future evolution of structural biology will hopefully unveil new mechanisms of Bt toxin crystallization, opening the door to their hijacking with the aim of developing a versatile in vivo crystallization platform of high academic and industrial interest.
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21
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Empey MA, Lefebvre-Raine M, Gutierrez-Villagomez JM, Langlois VS, Trudeau VL. A Review of the Effects of the Biopesticides Bacillus thuringiensis Serotypes israelensis (Bti) and kurstaki (Btk) in Amphibians. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 80:789-800. [PMID: 33876257 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-021-00842-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Insecticides are important in agriculture, to reduce human disease, and to decrease the nuisance of biting insects. Despite this, many have the potential for environmental impacts and toxicity in nontarget organisms. We reviewed data on the effects of insecticides based on toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) and Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) on amphibians. The few peer-reviewed publications that are available for Bti provide variable conclusions, ranging from few observable effects to evidence of acute toxicity at high concentrations. We briefly highlight the current controversies and identify key areas for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Molly Lefebvre-Raine
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | | | - Valerie S Langlois
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Vance L Trudeau
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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22
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López-Molina S, do Nascimento NA, Silva-Filha MHNL, Guerrero A, Sánchez J, Pacheco S, Gill SS, Soberón M, Bravo A. In vivo nanoscale analysis of the dynamic synergistic interaction of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry11Aa and Cyt1Aa toxins in Aedes aegypti. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009199. [PMID: 33465145 PMCID: PMC7846010 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The insecticidal Cry11Aa and Cyt1Aa proteins are produced by Bacillus thuringiensis as crystal inclusions. They work synergistically inducing high toxicity against mosquito larvae. It was proposed that these crystal inclusions are rapidly solubilized and activated in the gut lumen, followed by pore formation in midgut cells killing the larvae. In addition, Cyt1Aa functions as a Cry11Aa binding receptor, inducing Cry11Aa oligomerization and membrane insertion. Here, we used fluorescent labeled crystals, protoxins or activated toxins for in vivo localization at nano-scale resolution. We show that after larvae were fed solubilized proteins, these proteins were not accumulated inside the gut and larvae were not killed. In contrast, if larvae were fed soluble non-toxic mutant proteins, these proteins were found inside the gut bound to gut-microvilli. Only feeding with crystal inclusions resulted in high larval mortality, suggesting that they have a role for an optimal intoxication process. At the macroscopic level, Cry11Aa completely degraded the gastric caeca structure and, in the presence of Cyt1Aa, this effect was observed at lower toxin-concentrations and at shorter periods. The labeled Cry11Aa crystal protein, after midgut processing, binds to the gastric caeca and posterior midgut regions, and also to anterior and medium regions where it is internalized in ordered "net like" structures, leading finally to cell break down. During synergism both Cry11Aa and Cyt1Aa toxins showed a dynamic layered array at the surface of apical microvilli, where Cry11Aa is localized in the lower layer closer to the cell cytoplasm, and Cyt1Aa is layered over Cry11Aa. This array depends on the pore formation activity of Cry11Aa, since the non-toxic mutant Cry11Aa-E97A, which is unable to oligomerize, inverted this array. Internalization of Cry11Aa was also observed during synergism. These data indicate that the mechanism of action of Cry11Aa is more complex than previously anticipated, and may involve additional steps besides pore-formation activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira López-Molina
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | | | | | - Adán Guerrero
- Laboratorio Nacional de Microscopía Avanzada, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jorge Sánchez
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Sabino Pacheco
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Sarjeet S. Gill
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Mario Soberón
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Alejandra Bravo
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- * E-mail:
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23
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Dynamic Structural Biology Experiments at XFEL or Synchrotron Sources. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2305:203-228. [PMID: 33950392 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1406-8_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Macromolecular crystallography (MX) leverages the methods of physics and the language of chemistry to reveal fundamental insights into biology. Often beautifully artistic images present MX results to support profound functional hypotheses that are vital to entire life science research community. Over the past several decades, synchrotrons around the world have been the workhorses for X-ray diffraction data collection at many highly automated beamlines. The newest tools include X-ray-free electron lasers (XFELs) located at facilities in the USA, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, and Germany that deliver about nine orders of magnitude higher brightness in discrete femtosecond long pulses. At each of these facilities, new serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) strategies exploit slurries of micron-size crystals by rapidly delivering individual crystals into the XFEL X-ray interaction region, from which one diffraction pattern is collected per crystal before it is destroyed by the intense X-ray pulse. Relatively simple adaptions to SFX methods produce time-resolved data collection strategies wherein reactions are triggered by visible light illumination or by chemical diffusion/mixing. Thus, XFELs provide new opportunities for high temporal and spatial resolution studies of systems engaged in function at physiological temperature. In this chapter, we summarize various issues related to microcrystal slurry preparation, sample delivery into the X-ray interaction region, and some emerging strategies for time-resolved SFX data collection.
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24
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Orville AM. Recent results in time resolved serial femtosecond crystallography at XFELs. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 65:193-208. [PMID: 33049498 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography (tr-SFX) methods exploit slurries of crystalline samples that range in size from hundreds of nanometers to a few tens of micrometers, at near-physiological temperature and pressure, to generate atomic resolution models and probe authentic function with the same experiment. 'Dynamic structural biology' is often used to encompass the research philosophy and techniques. Reaction cycles for tr-SFX studies are initiated by photons or ligand addition/mixing strategies, wherein the latter are potentially generalizable across enzymology. Thus, dynamic structural biology often creates stop-motion molecular movies of macromolecular function. In metal-dependent systems, complementary spectroscopic information can also be collected from the same samples and X-ray pulses, which provides even more detailed mechanistic insights. These types of experimental data also complement quantum mechanical and classical dynamics numerical calculations. Correlated structural-functional results will yield more detailed mechanistic insights and will likely translate into better drugs and treatments impacting human health, and better catalysis for clean energy and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen M Orville
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 0DE, United Kingdom; Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0FA, United Kingdom.
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25
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Zárate-Potes A, Yang W, Pees B, Schalkowski R, Segler P, Andresen B, Haase D, Nakad R, Rosenstiel P, Tetreau G, Colletier JP, Schulenburg H, Dierking K. The C. elegans GATA transcription factor elt-2 mediates distinct transcriptional responses and opposite infection outcomes towards different Bacillus thuringiensis strains. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008826. [PMID: 32970778 PMCID: PMC7513999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively used as a model for the study of innate immune responses against bacterial pathogens. While it is well established that the worm mounts distinct transcriptional responses to different bacterial species, it is still unclear in how far it can fine-tune its response to different strains of a single pathogen species, especially if the strains vary in virulence and infection dynamics. To rectify this knowledge gap, we systematically analyzed the C. elegans response to two strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), MYBt18247 (Bt247) and MYBt18679 (Bt679), which produce different pore forming toxins (PFTs) and vary in infection dynamics. We combined host transcriptomics with cytopathological characterizations and identified both a common and also a differentiated response to the two strains, the latter comprising almost 10% of the infection responsive genes. Functional genetic analyses revealed that the AP-1 component gene jun-1 mediates the common response to both Bt strains. In contrast, the strain-specific response is mediated by the C. elegans GATA transcription factor ELT-2, a homolog of Drosophila SERPENT and vertebrate GATA4-6, and a known master regulator of intestinal responses in the nematode. elt-2 RNAi knockdown decreased resistance to Bt679, but remarkably, increased survival on Bt247. The elt-2 silencing-mediated increase in survival was characterized by reduced intestinal tissue damage despite a high pathogen burden and might thus involve increased tolerance. Additional functional genetic analyses confirmed the involvement of distinct signaling pathways in the C. elegans defense response: the p38-MAPK pathway acts either directly with or in parallel to elt-2 in mediating resistance to Bt679 infection but is not required for protection against Bt247. Our results further suggest that the elt-2 silencing-mediated increase in survival on Bt247 is multifactorial, influenced by the nuclear hormone receptors NHR-99 and NHR-193, and may further involve lipid metabolism and detoxification. Our study highlights that the nematode C. elegans with its comparatively simple immune defense system is capable of generating a differentiated response to distinct strains of the same pathogen species. Importantly, our study provides a molecular insight into the diversity of biological processes that are influenced by a single master regulator and jointly determine host survival after pathogen infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Zárate-Potes
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Wentao Yang
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Barbara Pees
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Rebecca Schalkowski
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Philipp Segler
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Bentje Andresen
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniela Haase
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Rania Nakad
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Philip Rosenstiel
- Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology (IKMB), Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Guillaume Tetreau
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Hinrich Schulenburg
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
| | - Katja Dierking
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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26
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Onofre J, Pacheco S, Torres-Quintero MC, Gill SS, Soberon M, Bravo A. The Cyt1Aa toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis inserts into target membranes via different mechanisms in insects, red blood cells, and lipid liposomes. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:9606-9617. [PMID: 32444494 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis produces crystal inclusions composed of three-domain Cry proteins and cytolytic Cyt toxins, which are toxic to different mosquito larvae. A key component is the Cyt toxin, which synergizes the activity of the other Cry toxins, thereby resulting in high toxicity. The precise mechanism of action of Cyt toxins is still debated, and two models have been proposed: the pore formation model and the detergent effect. Here, we performed a systematic structural characterization of the Cyt toxin interaction with different membranes, including in Aedes aegypti larval brush border membrane vesicles, small unilamellar vesicle liposomes, and rabbit erythrocytes. We examined Cyt1Aa insertion into these membranes by analyzing fluorescence quenching in solution and in the membrane-bound state. For this purpose, we constructed several Cyt1Aa variants having substitutions with a single cysteine residue in different secondary structures, enabling Cys labeling with Alexa Fluor 488 for quenching analysis using I-soluble quencher in solution and in the membrane-bound state. We identified the Cyt1Aa residues exposed to the solvent upon membrane insertion, predicting a possible topology of the membrane-inserted toxin in the different membranes. Moreover, toxicity assays with these variants revealed that Cyt1Aa exerts its insecticidal activity and hemolysis through different mechanisms. We found that Cyt1Aa exhibits variable interactions with each membrane system, with deeper insertion into mosquito larva membranes, supporting the pore formation model, whereas in the case of erythrocytes and small unilamellar vesicles, Cyt1Aa's insertion was more superficial, supporting the notion that a detergent effect underlies its hemolytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janette Onofre
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Sabino Pacheco
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Mary Carmen Torres-Quintero
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Sarjeet S Gill
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Mario Soberon
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Alejandra Bravo
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
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27
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Thompson MC, Yeates TO, Rodriguez JA. Advances in methods for atomic resolution macromolecular structure determination. F1000Res 2020; 9:F1000 Faculty Rev-667. [PMID: 32676184 PMCID: PMC7333361 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.25097.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent technical advances have dramatically increased the power and scope of structural biology. New developments in high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy, serial X-ray crystallography, and electron diffraction have been especially transformative. Here we highlight some of the latest advances and current challenges at the frontiers of atomic resolution methods for elucidating the structures and dynamical properties of macromolecules and their complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C. Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Todd O. Yeates
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jose A. Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Brühl CA, Després L, Frör O, Patil CD, Poulin B, Tetreau G, Allgeier S. Environmental and socioeconomic effects of mosquito control in Europe using the biocide Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 724:137800. [PMID: 32249002 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) has been used in mosquito control programs to reduce nuisance in Europe for decades and is generally considered an environmentally-safe, effective and target-specific biocide. However, the use of Bti is not uncontroversial. Target mosquitoes and affected midges represent an important food source for many aquatic and terrestrial predators and reduction of their populations is likely to result in food-web effects at higher trophic levels. In the context of global biodiversity loss, this appears particularly critical since treated wetlands are often representing conservation areas. In this review, we address the current large-scale use of Bti for mosquito nuisance control in Europe, provide a description of its regulation followed by an overview of the available evidence on the parameters that are essential to evaluate Bti use in mosquito control. Bti accumulation and toxin persistence could result in a chronic expose of mosquito populations ultimately affecting their susceptibility, although observed increase in resistance to Bti in mosquito populations is low due to the four toxins involved. A careful independent monitoring of mosquito susceptibility, using sensitive bioassays, is mandatory to detect resistance development timely. Direct Bti effects were documented for non-target chironomids and other invertebrate groups and are discussed for amphibians. Field studies revealed contrasting results on possible impacts on chironomid abundances. Indirect, food-web effects were rarely studied in the environment. Depending on study design and duration, Bti effects on higher trophic levels were demonstrated or not. Further long-term field studies are needed, especially with observations of bird declines in Bti-treated wetland areas. Socio-economic relevance of mosquito control requires considering nuisance, vector-borne diseases and environmental effects jointly. Existing studies indicate that a majority of the population is concerned regarding potential environmental effects of Bti mosquito control and that they are willing to pay for alternative, more environment-friendly techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten A Brühl
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, D-76829 Landau, Germany.
| | - Laurence Després
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Oliver Frör
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, D-76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Chandrashekhar D Patil
- Centre of Island Research and Environmental Observatory, PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, F-66860 Perpignan, France
| | - Brigitte Poulin
- Tour du Valat, Research Institute for the Conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands, Le Sambuc, F-13200 Arles, France
| | | | - Stefanie Allgeier
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, D-76829 Landau, Germany
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