Cytochrome P450 Drives Divergent Adaptation to Quercetin in Invasive and Native Fruit Borers

Area of Science:

• * Evolutionary biology
• * Molecular entomology
• * Chemical ecology

Background:

• * Plant-herbivore interactions are key drivers of insect adaptation.
• * Cydia pomonella (invasive) adapts slower to quercetin than Grapholita molesta (native).
• * The molecular basis for this divergent adaptation is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To elucidate the divergent molecular mechanisms of quercetin adaptation in C. pomonella and G. molesta.
• * To investigate the role of P450 genes in insect adaptation to plant secondary metabolites.

Main Methods:

• * Comparative analysis of non-adapted and adapted populations.
• * AI-driven molecular modeling.
• * RNA interference (RNAi) experiments.
• * In vitro metabolism assays.

Main Results:

• * Both species enhanced quercetin metabolism post-adaptation.
• * G. molesta utilizes classical detoxifying CYP3 and CYP4 P450s.
• * C. pomonella neofunctionalizes mitochondrial P450 genes for adaptation.
• * C. pomonella's adapted P450s exhibit lower metabolic capability than G. molesta's.

Conclusions:

• * Invasive C. pomonella employs mitochondrial P450 neofunctionalization for xenobiotic detoxification and host adaptation.
• * Divergent adaptive strategies contribute to species-specific invasion success.
• * Findings enhance understanding of host adaptability and pest species interactions.