CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 mediate thiamethoxam resistance in field whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera:Aleyrodidae)
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Published on: November 8, 2013
Jing Yang1, Buli Fu1, Peipan Gong1
1State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
Abstract:
Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are well-known for their crucial roles in the detoxification of xenobiotics. However, whether CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3, 2 genes from our Bemisia tabaci (B. tabaci) MED/Q genome data were associated with detoxification metabolism and confer resistance to thiamethoxam is unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 in mediating whitefly thiamethoxam resistance. Our results showed that mRNA levels of CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 were up-regulated after exposure to thiamethoxam. Transcriptional levels of 2 genes were overexpressed in laboratory and field thiamethoxam resistant strains by RT-qPCR. These results indicate that the enhanced expression of CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 appears to confer thiamethoxam resistance in B. tabaci. Moreover, linear regression analysis showed that the expression levels of CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 were positively correlated with thiamethoxam resistance levels among populations. The susceptibility of whitefly adults was markedly increased after silencing 2 genes by RNA interference (RNAi) which further confirming their major role in thiamethoxam resistance. Our findings provide information to better understand the roles of P450s in resistance to neonicotinoids and suggest that these genes may be applied to develop target genes for sustainable management tactic of agricultural pests such as B. tabaci.
Insights
Two cytochrome P450 genes, CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3, are crucial for thiamethoxam resistance in whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci). Silencing these genes increased whitefly susceptibility to this insecticide, highlighting their role in pest management.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are vital for detoxifying foreign compounds.
- The specific roles of CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 in Bemisia tabaci (B. tabaci) resistance to thiamethoxam were previously unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 in mediating thiamethoxam resistance in B. tabaci.
- To determine if enhanced expression of these P450 genes confers resistance to thiamethoxam.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to measure gene expression levels.
- RNA interference (RNAi) was employed to silence CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 in whiteflies.
- Linear regression analysis was performed to correlate gene expression with resistance levels.
Main Results:
- mRNA levels of CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 were significantly upregulated in whiteflies exposed to thiamethoxam.
- Overexpression of these genes was observed in both laboratory and field-resistant B. tabaci strains.
- Silencing CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 markedly increased whitefly susceptibility to thiamethoxam, confirming their role in resistance.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced expression of CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 confers thiamethoxam resistance in B. tabaci.
- These P450 genes are positively correlated with thiamethoxam resistance levels.
- CYP6CX2 and CYP6CX3 represent potential targets for developing sustainable pest management strategies against whiteflies.
