Biotech Updates

Expression of Biotin-binding Proteins in GM Tobacco confers Resistance to Potato Tuber Moth

November 5, 2010

High affinity biotin-binding proteins (BBPs) avidin and streptavidin are scientifically-tested insecticidal agents effective against many insect pests. However, the effectiveness of these BBPs as plant-based insecticides has not been studied. Thus, Colleen Murray of the New Zealand Institute of Plant and Food Research Ltd. and colleagues genetically engineered the production of BBP variant proteins in the vacuoles tobacco plants. The resulting transgenic tobacco lines were healthy, with normal physical characteristics. When subjected to bioassay, the transgenic plants exhibited resistance to potato tuber moth larvae at approximately 50ppm concentrations.

Read the abstract of this study at http://www.springerlink.com/content/r4520626738133j8/.