Utilization of the Rhs core region of tc-sepC orthologues as a degenerate system for the rapid amplification of insecticidal genes

We have developed a rapid procedure to identify the DNA sequence of candidate insecticidal genes belonging to the toxin complex (Tc) family. Using degenerate primers designed to the conserved core region of a component of the toxin complexes, we obtained consistent amplification of a similar to 910 bp DNA segment of the tc-sepC gene from various bacterial genomes. This technique not only defines whether a putative insecticidal bacterium is a member of the Tc family, but will facilitate the isolation of neighbouring genes that may encode the full compliment of tc-like genes.