Syngenta Participations Ag

Cheryl M Stacy

Eric Chen

Jeng Shong Chen

Hope Prim Hart

Frederick Walters

Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests are disclosed. In particular, transgenic maize plants comprising nucleic acid molecules encoding modified Cry3A toxins having increased toxicity to western corn rootworm are provided. Such modified Cry3A toxins, into which a non-naturally occurring protease recognition site is inserted, are expressed at levels in transgenic plants to inhibit insect feeding damage and cause insect mortality.

Transgenic plants expressing modified Cry3A

Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests are disclosed. In particular, novel engineered hybrid insecticidal proteins (eHIPs) having toxicity to at least corn rootworm are provided. By fusing unique combinations of complete or partial variable regions and conserved blocks of at least two different(Bt) Cry proteins or a modified Cry proteins an eHIP having activity against corn rootworm is designed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel eHIPs are also provided. Methods of making the eHIPs and methods of using the eHIPs and nucleic acids encoding the eHIPs of the invention, for example in transgenic plants to confer protection from insect damage are also disclosed.

Insecticidal proteins

Methods for making a modified Cry3A toxin are disclosed. Such methods include the insertion of a protease recognition site that is recognized by a gut protease of a target insect, such as corn rootworm, into at least one position of a Cry3A toxin so that a modified Cry3A toxin is thus designed. The coding sequence of the modified Cry3A toxin may be transformed into a host cell and the host cell grown under conditions that allow the host cell to produce the modified Cry3A toxin. The host cell may be a plant cell and the plant may be comprised in a transgenic plant. Thus, the transgenic plant may be used to produce the modified Cry3A toxin.

Modified Cry3A toxins and nucleic acid sequences coding therefor

Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests are disclosed. In particular, novel nucleic acid sequences encoding modified Cry3A toxins having increased toxicity to corn rootworm are provided. By inserting a protease recognition site, such as cathepsin G, that is recognized by a gut protease of a target insect in at least one position of a Cry3A toxin a modified Cry3A toxin having significantly greater toxicity, particularly to western and northern corn rootworm is designed. Further, a method of making the modified Cry3A toxins and methods of using the modified cry3A nucleic acid sequences, for example in microorganisms to control insects or in transgenic plants to confer protection from insect damage, and a method of using the modified Cry3A toxins, and compositions and formulations comprising the modified Cry3A toxins, for example applying the modified Cry3A toxins or compositions or formulations to insect-infested areas, or to prophylactically treat insect-susceptible areas or plants to confer protection against the insect pests are disclosed.

Modified Cry3A toxins

Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests are disclosed. In particular, novel nucleic acid sequences encoding modified Cry3A toxins having increased toxicity to corn rootworm are provided. By inserting a protease recognition site such as cathepsin G, that is recognized by a gut protease of a target insect in at least one position of a Cry3A toxin a modified Cry3A toxin having significantly greater toxicity, particularly to western and northern corn rootworm is designed. Further, a method of making the modified Cry3A toxins and methods of using the modified Cry3A nucleic acid sequences, for example in microorganisms to control insects or in transgenic plants to confer protection from insect damage, and a method of using the modified Cry3A toxins, and compositions and formulations comprising the modified Cry3A toxins, for example applying the modified Cry3A toxins or compositions or formulations to insect-infested areas, or to prophylactically treat insect-susceptible areas or plants to confer protection against the insect pests are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Cheryl M Stacy