Soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) possesses is a gene family cry gene (1-40) over its plasmid, which forms an endotoxic proteins, cry protein (protein crystals) during a particular phase of its growth. These crystals contain a toxic insecticidal protein. This toxin, however does not kill the Bacillus. Actually, the Bt toxin protein exists as inactive protoxins but once an insect ingests the inactive toxin, it is converted into an active form of toxin due to the alkaline pH of the gut which solubilise the crystals. The activated toxin binds to the surface of midgut epithelial cells and creates pores that cause cell swelling and lysis, and eventually cause death of the insect.
Bacillus thuringiensis forms protein crystals, which contain insecticidal protein
NEET UG 2011 — Zoology Biotechnology and Its Applications
2011mcqmedium
Bacillus thuringiensis forms protein crystals, which contain insecticidal protein
Official previous-year question
Held on 30 Apr 2011 · Verified 9 Jul 2026.
Options
- A
binds with epithelial cells of midgut of the insect pest ultimately killing it
- B
is coded by several genes including the gene cry
- C
is activated by acid of pH of the foregut of the insect pest
- D
does not kill the carrier bacterium which is itself resistant to this toxin
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