9VEK

Structural basis for the assembly and translocation of the Vip1-Vip2 insecticidal binary toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis

9VEK の概要

• エントリーDOI: 10.2210/pdb9vek/pdb
• EMDBエントリー: 65010
• 分子名称: Vip1, CALCIUM ION (2 entities in total)
• 機能のキーワード: binary toxin, biopesticide, toxin
• 由来する生物種: Bacillus thuringiensis
• タンパク質・核酸の鎖数: 7
• 化学式量合計: 509422.98

構造登録者

Chen, P.,Zhao, T. (登録日: 2025-06-09, 公開日: 2026-04-15)

主引用文献

Zhao, T.,Wang, Z.,Ren, J.,Han, X.,Li, L.,Liu, Z.,Zhang, J.,Chen, P.
Structural basis for the assembly and translocation of the Vip1-Vip2 insecticidal toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis.
Nat Commun, 2026

PubMed Abstract: Insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been extensively and successfully used in genetically engineered crops for decades but continue to face challenges from the adaptive resistance in the insect population. The Bt binary toxin Vip1Ad1(Vip1) and Vip2Ag1(Vip2), a promising next-generation candidate gene combination for transgenic crops, have demonstrated high efficacy against the destructive coleopteran pest white grubs, however, their mode of action remains largely elusive. In this study, we report cryo-EM structures of the heptameric Vip1-pore and Vip2-bound Vip1-pore complex, capturing a series of putative assembly-related intermediates that suggest a binary toxin assembly and translocation pathway. Together with structure-guided mutagenesis, these data provide insights into a sequential assembly of binary complex and a sequence-independent translocation mechanism. Proof-of-principle experiments showed successful delivery of a desired protein cargo into host cells based on the mini-Vip2-Vip1 pore system, paving the way for developing much needed extracellular pesticidal protein delivery platforms. These findings not only clarify the assembly and translocation mechanism of the binary insecticidal toxin pair but also offer an excellent alternative model to investigate human-pathogenic pore-forming toxins because of its similarity and biosafety.

PubMed: 41912579
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71211-7

実験手法

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (3.31 Å)