In the insect gut, the protein is solubilized due to the high pH of the insect gut and is proteolytically cleaved to the active core of the protein, which is resistant to further degradation by the insect gut proteases. The core proteins binds to specific receptors on the midgut of Lepidopteran insects, inserts into the membrane and forms ion-specific pores. These events disrupt the digestive processes causing the death of the insects.