Abstract: This invention provides modified, insecticidal Cry35 proteins with enhanced properties as compared to wild-type Cry35 proteins. The modifications to these proteins were based in part on analysis of the atomic coordinates and three-dimensional (3D) structure of the ˜45 kDa 149B1 protein and other proteins in the Cry35 class. The subject invention also includes polynucleotides that encode these modified proteins, and transgenic plants that produce these modified proteins. This invention further provides methods of controlling plant pests, including rootworms, with these modified proteins. The modified proteins of the subject invention include chimeric toxins involving exchanged segments, domains, and motifs as discussed herein. The subject invention also provides methods of modifying Cry35 proteins.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns new classes of pesticidally active proteins and the polynucleotide sequences that encode these proteins. In preferred embodiments, these pesticidal proteins have molecular weights of approximately 40-50 kDa and of approximately 10-15 kDa.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns new classes of pesticidally active proteins and the polynucleotide sequences which encode these proteins. More specifically, in preferred embodiments, pesticidal proteins of approximately 40-50 kDa and of approximately 10-15 kDa are used for controlling corn rootworms. Also described are novel pesticidal isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis.