| abstract |
Compositions and methods for conferring lepidoptericidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for the Axmi222z toxin polypeptide are provided. The Axmi 222z coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated Axmi222z toxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the Axmi222z polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:24-26, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 7, 12, and 17, as well as variants and fragments thereof. |