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Why does the insecticidal protein produced by Bacillus thuringiensis not kill the bacterium, but kills the cotton bollworm? Explain.

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Answers (1)

Bacillus thuringiensis during a particular phase of their growth forms protein crystals which contain a toxic insecticidal protein. This protein does not kill the Bacillus because Bt toxin protein exists as inactive protoxins but once an insect (cotton bollworm) ingests the inactive toxin, it is converted into an active form of toxin due to the alkaline pH of the gut which solubilizes the crystals.

The activated toxin binds to the surface of midgut epithelial cells and creates pores that cause cell swelling and lysis and eventually cause the death of insect (cotton bollworm)

Posted by

Priyanka Kumari

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