Prediction of Lytic Segments from Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis 130 kDa and 72 kDa Proteins

The amino acid sequences of 130 kDa and 72 kDa proteins responsible for the larvicidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis (Bti) were analyzed by hydrophobic moment plots. A search for highly amphiphilic $\alpha$-helices was made in these proteins using the helical hydrophobic moment as a criterion of amphiphilicity The protein segments of the largest hydrophobic moments were analyzed. In the present communication we report the surface seeking helices in 130 kDa and 72 kDa proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis. It is assumed that the surface seeking segments may participate in one of the membrane-related functions of Bacillus thuringiensis.