2024 Biotechnology and its ApplicationsMechanism of Action of Bt Toxin Medium Question 1 of 2 in Mechanism of Action of Bt Toxin

Given below are two statements: Statement I: Bt toxins are insect group specific and coded by a gene $cry$ IAc. Statement II: Bt toxin exists as inactive protoxin in $B.\ thuringiensis$. However, after ingestion by the insect the inactive protoxin gets converted into active form due to acidic pH of the insect gut. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A Statement I is true but Statement II is false.
B Statement I is false but Statement II is true.
C Both Statement I and Statement II are true.
D Both Statement I and Statement II are false.

The answer is A.

Solution

Statement I: Bt toxins are insect-group specific and are coded by $cry$ genes, e.g. $cry$IAc – true. Statement II: Bt toxin exists as an inactive protoxin in $B.\ thuringiensis$; after ingestion, it is converted into the active form due to the alkaline pH of the insect gut, not acidic – false. So Statement I is true but Statement II is false.

Concept Activation of Bt protoxin in the insect gut

Mechanism of Action of Bt Toxin in past papers

2 questions from this chapter have appeared across 1 exam years.