INSECTICIDAL PROTEINS

• US 20190330652A1
• Filed: 08/03/2017
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG (China National Chemical Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG (China National Chemical Corporation)
• Inventors: REYNOLDS, Clarence Michael
• Granted Patent: US 11,136,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/20 Bacteria; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/50 Isolated enzymes; Isolated proteins peptides A01N37/46
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/60 Isolated nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/195 from bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/20 from Spirochaetales (O), e.g. Treponema, Leptospira
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8286 for insect resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/146 Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants

Abstract

Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests are disclosed. In particular, novel insecticidal proteins having toxicity Coleopteran and/or Lepidopteran insect pests are provided. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel insecticidal proteins are also provided. Methods of making the insecticidal proteins and methods of using the insecticidal proteins and nucleic acids encoding the insecticidal proteins of the invention, for example in transgenic plants to confer protection from insect damage, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An expression cassette comprising a promoter operably linked to a heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising:

(a) a nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs;

17-37;

(b) a nucleotide sequence that is at least 80% identical to the nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs;

17-37;

(c) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide, wherein the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide comprises any one of SEQ ID NOs;

1-16;

(d) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide, wherein the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs;

1-16;

(e) a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of any one of (a) to (d) above.

4. A vector or construct comprising the expression cassette of claim 1.

5. A host cell that contains the expression cassette of claim 1.

6. The host cell of claim 5 that is a bacterial cell or a plant cell.

8. A method for producing a polypeptide with insecticidal activity, comprising culturing the host cell of claim 5 under conditions in which the nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide is expressed.

9. A method of producing a plant or plant part having enhanced insect resistance as compared to a control plant or plant part, comprising:

(a) transforming a nucleic acid molecule comprising the expression cassette of claim 1 into a plant or plant part;

or

(b) crossing a first parent plant with a second parent plant, wherein at least the first parent plant comprises the expression cassette of claim 1 and producing at least one progeny plant,

wherein the transformed plant or plant part of step (a) or the at least one progeny plant of step (b) comprises the expression cassette within its genome and exhibits enhanced insect resistance as compared to a control plant or plant part.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the expression cassette encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:

9.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the enhanced insect resistance is against a coleopteran and/or lepidopteran insect pest.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the coleopteran pest is a Diabrotica species.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the the Diabrotica species is selected from the group consisting of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Diabrotica barberi and Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi.

21. The method of claim 9, wherein the plant or plant part is a monocotyledonous plant.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the plant is millet, switchgrass, maize, sorghum, wheat, oat, turf grass, pasture grass, flax, rice, sugarcane, oilseed rape, or barley.

24. A transgenic plant comprising the expression cassette of claim 1.

25. The transgenic plant of claim 24, wherein said expression cassette comprises a nucleotide sequence that has at least (a) 80% identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:

17 to 37;

or (b) 95% identity to SEQ ID NO;

36.

27. The transgenic plant of claim 24 wherein said plant is a monocotyledonous plant.

28. The transgenic plant of claim 27, wherein said monocotyledonous plant is millet, switchgrass, maize, sorghum, wheat, oat, turf grass, pasture grass, flax, rice, sugarcane, oilseed rape, or barley.

30. The transgenic plant of claim 24, wherein the plant comprises at least one additional desired trait, wherein the desired trait is selected from the group consisting of insect resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, male sterility, herbicide resistance, bacterial disease resistance, fungal disease resistance, viral disease resistance, nematode resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism, production of a commercially valuable enzyme or metabolite, improved nutritional value, improved performance in an industrial process and altered reproductive capability.

32. The transgenic plant of claim 30, wherein the additional desired trait is a second pesticidal agent that is an interfering RNA molecule.

39. A method for controlling a lepidopteran or coleopteran pest population comprising contacting said population with an effective insect-controlling amount of a polypeptide encoded by the expression cassette of claim 1.

2. A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:

18-37.

3. A polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:

2-10 or SEQ ID NOs;

12-16.

7. (canceled)

11-17. -17. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

33-38. -38. (canceled)

40-41. -41. (canceled)