Impact of transgenic oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of insecticidal proteins on longevity and digestive enzymes of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis.

Konrad, R; Connor, M; Ferry, N; Gatehouse, A; Babendreier, D

Abstract

The risk that insect-resistant transgenic plants may pose for solitary bees was assessed by determining longevity of adult Osmia bicornis (O. rufa) chronically exposed to transgenic oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) or to the purified insecticidal proteins recombinant rOC-1, Kunitz soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI), Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), or Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry1Ab dissolved in sugar solution (at 0.01 and 0.1%, w:v, Cry1Ab only at 0.01%). Compared to control bees, longevity was significantly reduced by SBTI and GNA at both concentrations and by rOC-1 at 0.1%, but not by Cry1Ab or rOC-1 at 0.01%. Longevity on the OC-1 oilseed rape was not significantly different from the control plants. The effects of SBTI and rOC-1 on longevity were investigated through characterization of the digestive proteinases of O. bicornis and analysis of the response in proteinase profiles to ingestion of these proteinase inhibitors. A relatively complex profile of at least four types of soluble proteolytic enzymes was identified. Serine proteinases were found to be predominant, with metallo and especially cysteine proteinases making a smaller albeit significant contribution. The compensatory response to in vivo enzyme inhibition was similar for SBTI and rOC-1 although less pronounced for rOC-1. It consisted of a non-specific overproduction of native proteinases, both sensitive and insensitive, and the induction of a novel aspartic proteinase.

Citation

Konrad, R., Connor, M., Ferry, N., Gatehouse, A., & Babendreier, D. (2009). Impact of transgenic oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of insecticidal proteins on longevity and digestive enzymes of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis. Journal of Insect Physiology, 55(4), 305-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.12.007

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Oct 6, 2011
• Journal: Journal of insect physiology
• Print ISSN: 0022-1910
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 55
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 305-13
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.12.007
• Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry1Ab, snowdrop lectin (GNA), kunitz soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI), digestive proteinase profiles, risk assessment
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.12.007