Improvement of bioinsecticides production through mutagenesis of Bacillus thuringiensis by u.v. and nitrous acid affecting metabolic pathways and/or delta-endotoxin synthesis.

AIMS: The present work aimed to obtain bioinsecticide over-producing mutants through classical mutagenesis of vegetative cells of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) by using u.v. and nitrous acid, and to evidence the involvement of cell metabolism in delta-endotoxin synthesis. METHODS AND
RESULTS: Vegetative cells of Bt were treated by nitrous acid (0.17 mg ml(-1)) or exposed to u.v. rays (emitted at a wave length of 240 nm). The isolated survivors were screened on the basis of the production of delta-endotoxins and biomass in glucose and/or in gruel-based media at two aeration conditions. Bioinsecticide over-producing mutants were obtained with high frequencies because random mutations were shown to affect cell metabolism at different pathways related to the regulation of delta-endotoxin synthesis.
CONCLUSIONS: Classical mutagenesis of Bt cells lead to the isolation of a large variety of delta-endotoxin over-producing mutants that could be classified into six groups based on the location of the mutations, particularly in metabolism pathways and delta-endotoxin synthesis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: High frequencies of delta-endotoxin over-producing mutants of Bt could be obtained through classical mutagenesis of vegetative cells. This should contribute to a significant reduction of production and utilization costs of Bt bioinsecticides.