Novel cytochrome P450s, CYP6BB1 and CYP6P10, from the salt marsh mosquito Aedes sollicitans (Walker) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Molecular cloning and xenobiotic induction of seven novel cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in Aedes albopictus

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) is a superfamily of enzymes that is important in metabolism of endogenous and exogenous compounds. In insects, these enzymes confer resistance to insecticides through its metabolic activities. Members of P450 from family 6 in insects are known to play a role in such function. In this study, we have isolated seven novel family 6 P450 from Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), a vector of dengue and chikungunya fever. Induction profile of these seven genes was studied using several insecticides and xenobiotics. It was found that deltamethrin and permethrin did not induce expression of any genes. Another insecticide, temephos, inhibited expression of CYP6P15 for fivefold and twofold for CYP6N29, CYP6Y7, and CYP6Z18. In addition, copper II sulfate induced expression of CYP6M17 and CYP6N28 for up to sixfold. Benzothiazole (BZT), a tire leachate induced the expression of CYP6M17 by fourfold, CYP6N28 by sevenfold, but inhibited the expression of CYP6P15 for threefold and CYP6Y7 for twofold. Meanwhile, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) induced the expression CYP6N28 (twofold), while it inhibited the expression of CYP6P15 (fivefold) and CYP6Y7 (twofold). Remarkably, all seven genes were induced two- to eightfold by acetone in larval stage, but not adult stage. Expression of CYP6N28 was twofold higher, while expression of CYP6P15 was 15-fold lower in adult than larva. The other five P450s were not differentially expressed between the larvae and adult. This finding showed that acetone can be a good inducer of P450 in Ae. albopictus. On the other hand, temephos can act as good suppressor of P450, which may affect its own bioefficacy because it needs to be bioactivated by P450. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on acetone-inducible P450 in insects. Further study is needed to characterize the mechanisms involved in acetone induction in P450.

Novel cytochrome P450 genes, CYP6EB1 and CYP6EC1, are over-expressed in acrinathrin-resistant Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Control of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) is a serious problem for agriculture all over the world because of the limited range of insecticides that are available. Insecticide resistance in F. occidentalis has been reported for all major insecticide groups. Our previous studies showed that cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification is a major mechanism responsible for insecticide resistance in this pest. Degenerate polymerase chain reaction was used to identify P450 genes that might be involved in acrinathrin resistance, in a laboratory population of F. occidentalis. Associated sequences were classified as belonging to the CYP4 and CYP6 families. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that two genes, CYP6EB1 and CYP6EC1, were over-expressed in adults and L2 larvae of the resistant population, when compared with the susceptible population, suggesting their possible involvement in resistance to acrinathrin.

Two novel cytochrome P450 genes CYP6CS1 and CYP6CW1 from Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae): cDNA cloning and induction by host resistant rice

Two novel full-length P450 cDNAs, CYP6CS1 and CYP6CW1, were cloned from the fourth instar nymphs of brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) reared on its susceptible rice variety Taichung Native 1 (TN1) plants. The deduced proteins are typical microsomal P450s sharing conserved structural and functional domains with other insect CYP6 members. Temporal expression analysis by northern blot hybridization indicated pre-exposure to N. lugens moderately resistant rice Minghui 63 (MH63) seedlings caused a time course-dependent induction of CYP6CS1 which peaked after 24 h of treatment; in contrast, CYP6CW1 was induced and remained at a constant time course from 0-72 h. CYP6CS1 and CYP6CW1 are dramatically induced in gut tissues and, slightly upregulated in carcass and fat bodies as revealed in spatial gene expression analysis. Whole mount in situ hybridizaion revealed that the two genes are expressed at a basal level in gut tissue and Malpighian tubules in nymphs fed with TN1 rice. After exposure to MH63, the expression of CYP6CW1 was found to be high in the whole gut, including Malpighian tubules. Expression of CYP6CS1 was significantly increased in midgut, and slightly increased in foregut, hindgut and Malpighian tubules. These data suggest a potential role of the two P450s in determining patterns of N. lugens-rice relationships through allelochemical detoxification.

Molecular characterization of two novel deltamethrin-inducible P450 genes from Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae)

Two novel P450 genes, CYP6CE1 and CYP6CE2 (GenBank accession number: EF421245 and EF421246), were cloned and characterized from psocid, Liposcelis bostrychophila. CYP6CE1 and CYP6CE2 contain open reading frames of 1,581 and 1,563 nucleotides that encode 527 and 521 amino acid residues, respectively. The putative proteins of CYP6CE1 and CYP6CE2 show predicted molecular weights of 60.76 and 59.83 kDa with a theoretical pI of 8.58 and 8.78, respectively. CYP6CE1 and CYP6CE2 share 74% identity with each other, and the deduced proteins are typical microsomal P450s sharing signature sequences with other insect CYP6 P450s. Both CYP6CE1 and CYP6CE2 share the closest identities with Hodotermopsis sjoestedti CYP6AM1 at 48% among the published sequences. Phylogenetic analysis showed a closer relationship of CYP6CE1 and CYP6CE2 with CYP6 members of other insects than with those from other families. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR showed that both CYP6CE1 and CYP6CE2 are expressed at all developmental stages tested. Interestingly, CYP6CE2 transcripts decreased from the highest in 1st nymph to the lowest in adults, which seemed to suggest developmental regulation. However, neither CYP6CE1 nor CYP6CE2 were stage specific. The CYP6CE1 and CYP6CE2 transcripts in adults increased significantly after deltamethrin exposure. Recombinant protein expression studies are needed to determine the real functions of these proteins.

CYP9A12 and CYP9A17 in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera: sequence similarity, expression profile and xenobiotic response

BACKGROUND

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) causes severe losses in many crops including cotton. Cytochrome P450s play crucial roles in the metabolism of many important compounds in various organisms. The authors attempt to identify new cytochrome P450 genes and investigate their expression profile and xenobiotic response in order to understand the nature and roles of cytochrome P450s in this important pest.

RESULTS

A novel P450 cDNA (CYP9A17), encoding a protein of 531 amino acid residues, was isolated from H. armigera. CYP9A17 is a typical microsomal P450, showing the highest (93.9%) amino acid identity with CYP9A12 from H. armigera. The high similarity is not only found between cDNAs, but also between the intron-exon organisation. CYP9A12 is constitutively universally expressed in all four life stages and in all tested larval tissues, whereas CYP9A17 is specifically expressed in the larval midgut and fat body. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed that the level of both CYP9A12 and CYP9A17 mRNA is affected in dose-dependent and tissue-specific manners by deltamethrin, gossypol and phenobarbital.

CONCLUSION

CYP9A12 and CYP9A17 showed high sequence identity, but with differential expression patterns, suggesting that CYP9A12 and CYP9A17 genes in H. armigera might diverge via subfunctionalisation after the gene duplication event.