Expression of Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA-I′) from elderberry bark in transgenic tobacco plants results in enhanced resistance to different insect species

Abstract

Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum cv Samsun NN) have been transformed with the gene encoding the type-2 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) SNA-I' from elderberry (Sambucus nigra) under the control of the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter. Previous research confirmed that these plants synthesize, correctly process and assemble a fully active RIP. Variability in protein expression was observed within the transgenic lines. The effects of the type-2 RIP SNA-I' delivered through a leaf feeding assay were evaluated in the laboratory on two economically important pest insects belonging to the orders of Hemiptera, the tobacco aphid (Myzus nicotianae) and Lepidoptera, the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua). In the experiment with aphids, significant effects were observed on the life parameters, such as survival, intrinsic rate of increase, net reproductive rate, mean generation time and mean daily offspring, whereas with caterpillars significant reduction in fresh weight as well as retardation in development were observed. In addition, significant increases in mortality were noted for insects fed on the transgenic lines as compared to wild type plants. This information provides further support for RIPs having a role in plant resistance to insect pest species

A barley cysteine-proteinase inhibitor reduces the performance of two aphid species in artificial diets and transgenic Arabidopsis plants

“…Currently, the most widely available method to control aphid populations is the use of chemicals, but alternative methodologies such as plant genetic engineering offer new possibilities to enhance plant resistance to aphids. Among transgenes tested, lectins and proteinase inhibitors have been reported to promote deleterious effects on aphids (Gatehouse et al 2003;Rahbé et al 2003a,b;Dutta et al 2005;Shahidi-Noghabi et al 2009). In contrast, Bacillus thuringiensis d-endotoxins exhibit low to moderate toxicity in terms both of mortality and growth rate (Lawo et al 2009;Porcar et al 2009).…”

Occurrence and new procedure of preparation of nigrin, an antiribosomal lectin present in elderberry bark

“…Lectins have been suggested as the cause of elderberry toxicity at least in insects (Michiels, Van Damme, & Smagghe, 2010). Amongst elderberry lectins we found one with ribosomeinactivating protein (RIP) activity known as nigrin, which coexists with a number of structurally-related monomeric and dimeric lectins devoid of RIP activity (Ferreras et al, 2010;Girbes et al, 2004;Stirpe, 2004) but with gut growth regulator activities (Pusztai et al, 1990) and toxicity to insect midgut (Michiels et al, 2010;Shahidi-Noghabi, Van Damme, & Smagghe, 2008;Shahidi-Noghabi, Van Damme, & Smagghe, 2009). Dwarf elder (S. ebulus L.) contains an equivalent of nigrin known as ebulin .…”

Plant AB Toxins with Lectin Domains

“…Shahidi-Noghabi et al (2009) reported that transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing SNA-I or SNA-I' enhanced the resistance to different insect species, including aphids and caterpillars. Mutation of the SNA-I B chain in one carbohydrate binding site reduced the insecticidal activity, while mutation of both carbohydrate binding sites completely abolished the toxic effect.…”