AXMI-028 and AXMI-029, a family of novel delta-endotoxin genes and methods for their use

A plant having stably incorporated into its genome a DNA construct comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein having insecticidal activity, wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of:

• a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3;
• b) a nucleotide sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3;
• c) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
• d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
• and,
• e) the delta endotoxin nucleotide sequence of the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited as Accession No. NRRL B-30806;
• wherein said nucleotide sequence is operably linked to a promoter that drives expression of a coding sequence in a plant cell.

A method of protecting a plant from an insect pest, comprising introducing into said plant or cell thereof at least one expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes an insecticidal polypeptide, wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of:

• a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3;
• b) a nucleotide sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3;
• c) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
• d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
• and,
• e) the delta endotoxin nucleotide sequence of the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited as
• Accession No. NRRL B-30806.

A method for producing a polypeptide with insecticidal activity, comprising the steps of culturing a host cell under conditions in which a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide is expressed and isolating the polypeptide, said nucleic acid molecule being selected from the group consisting of:

• a) a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
• b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3;
• c) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, wherein said polypeptide has insecticidal activity;
• d) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3;
• wherein the encoded polypeptide has insecticidal activity and;
• e) a nucleic acid molecule that is the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited as Accession No. NRRL B-30806.