NEET 2019 Biology Paper

Bacillus thuringiensis forms protein crystals during a particular phase of their growth. These crystals contain a toxic insecticidal protein. These protein exist as inactive protoxins but once an insect ingest the inactive toxin, it is converted into an active form of toxin due to alkaline pH of the gut which solubilize the crystals. The activated toxin binds to the surface of midgut epithelial cells and create pores that cause cell swelling and lysis and eventually cause death of insect.