Quantification of Bacillus thuringiensis Insect Control Protein as Expressed in Transgenic Plants

Quantitative assays were developed to analyze gene products produced by transgenic plants that express Bacillus thuringiensis insect control proteins. Initially B. thuringiensis proteins were produced in plants at approximately 10,000 fold lower specific activities than the same proteins produced by microbial fermentations. Consequently, accurate and selective assays were developed to quantitate B. thuringiensis specific DNA (gene copy), mRNA and protein produced by insect tolerant transgenic plants. The 100 fold increase in B. thuringiensis protein expression achieved in plants, based on these analysis, enabled the production of transgenic plants that are protected against agronomically important insect pests.