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Bracchetti L, Cocci P, Palermo FA. Multiple Aspects of the Fight against the Red Palm Weevil in an Urban Area: Study Case, San Benedetto del Tronto (Central Italy). INSECTS 2023; 14:502. [PMID: 37367318 DOI: 10.3390/insects14060502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The fight against alien invasive insect pests of plants in the urban environment often affects varied sectors of the economy, landscape gardening, public health, and ecology. This paper focuses on the evolution of the red palm weevil in San Benedetto del Tronto, a coastal urban area in central Italy. We investigated the evolution of this insect pest of palm trees in the 2013-2020 period, considering both the effectiveness of the chemicals used and their potentially harmful effects. With a multidisciplinary approach, we carried out a spatio-temporal analysis of the extent and mode of pest spread over time using historical aerial photos, freely available remote sensing images, and field surveys integrated in a GIS environment. We also assessed the toxicity risk associated with the chemicals used to protect the palms from the red weevil. The fight against this weevil is now concentrated in specific areas such as parks, roads, villas, hotels, farmhouses, and nurseries. The preventive chemical treatments applied are very effective in preserving the palms, but they show a toxic potential for all organisms. We discuss current local management of this pest, focusing on several aspects involved in the fight against this beetle in an urban area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Bracchetti
- Unità di Ricerca e Didattica San Benedetto del Tronto (URDiS), University of Camerino, Via A. Scipioni, 6, 63034 San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy
| | - Paolo Cocci
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Francesco Alessandro Palermo
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, Italy
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Jensen MA, Blatz DJ, LaLone CA. Defining the Biologically Plausible Taxonomic Domain of Applicability of an Adverse Outcome Pathway: A Case Study Linking Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Activation to Colony Death. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:71-87. [PMID: 36263952 PMCID: PMC10100214 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
For the majority of developed adverse outcome pathways (AOPs), the taxonomic domain of applicability (tDOA) is typically narrowly defined with a single or a handful of species. Defining the tDOA of an AOP is critical for use in regulatory decision-making, particularly when considering protection of untested species. Structural and functional conservation are two elements that can be considered when defining the tDOA. Publicly accessible bioinformatics approaches, such as the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool, take advantage of existing and growing databases of protein sequence and structural information to provide lines of evidence toward structural conservation of key events (KEs) and KE relationships (KERs) of an AOP. It is anticipated that SeqAPASS results could readily be combined with data derived from empirical toxicity studies to provide evidence of both structural and functional conservation, to define the tDOA for KEs, KERs, and AOPs. Such data could be incorporated in the AOP-Wiki as lines of evidence toward biological plausibility for the tDOA. We present a case study describing the process of using bioinformatics to define the tDOA of an AOP using an AOP linking the activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to colony death/failure in Apis mellifera. Although the AOP was developed to gain a particular biological understanding relative to A. mellifera health, applicability to other Apis bees, as well as non-Apis bees, has yet to be defined. The present study demonstrates how bioinformatics can be utilized to rapidly take advantage of existing protein sequence and structural knowledge to enhance and inform the tDOA of KEs, KERs, and AOPs, focusing on providing evidence of structural conservation across species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:71-87. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa A. Jensen
- Department of Biology, Swenson College of Science and EngineeringUniversity of Minnesota DuluthDuluthMinnesotaUSA
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and ExposureGreat Lakes Toxicology and Ecology DivisionDuluthMinnesotaUSA
| | | | - Carlie A. LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and ExposureGreat Lakes Toxicology and Ecology DivisionDuluthMinnesotaUSA
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Wang ZM, Li S, Shi CC, Xie LJ, Fu KY, Jiang WH. The actions of neonicotinoid insecticides on nicotinic acetylcholine subunits Ldα1 and Ldα8 of Leptinotarsa decemlineata and assembled receptors. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:1387-1400. [PMID: 35038787 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a pentameric channel protein and also a target for neonicotinoids. There are few reported studies on the molecular interactions of Leptinotarsa decemlineata nAChRs with neonicotinoids. In this study, we analyzed the response of acetylcholine and neonicotinoids (thiamethoxam [TMX], imidacloprid [IMI], and clothianidin [CLO]) on hybrid receptors constructed by nAChR α1 and α8 subunits of L. decemlineata (Ldα1 and Ldα8) co-expressed with rat β2 subunit (rβ2) at different capped RNA (cRNA) ratios in Xenopus oocytes. In addition, we evaluated the expression changes of Ldα1 and Ldα8 after median lethal dose of TMX treatment for 72 h by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The resulting functional nAChRs Ldα1/rβ2 and Ldα1/Ldα8/rβ2 showed different pharmacological characteristics. The neonicotinoids tested showed lower agonist affinity on Ldα1/Ldα8/rβ2 compared to Ldα1/rβ2 at same ratios of subunit cRNAs. The sensitivities of neonicotinoids tested for Ldα1/rβ2 and Ldα1/Ldα8/rβ2 at cRNA ratios of 5:1, 1:1 and 5:5:1, 1:1:1, respectively, were lower than those for nAChRs at ratios of 1:5 and 1:1:5, respectively, whereas the values of maximum response (Imax ) varied. For Ldα1/Ldα8/rβ2, a reduction of Lda8 cRNA resulted in increased sensitivity to IMI and decreased sensitivity to TMX. The expression of Ldα1 and Ldα8 significantly decreased in adults by 82.12% and 47.02%, respectively, while Ldα8 was significantly upregulated by 2.44 times in 4th instar larvae after exposure to TMX. We infer that Ldα1 and Ldα8 together play an important role in the sensitivity of L. decemlineata to neonicotinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Min Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Sha Li
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Cheng-Cheng Shi
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Lin-Jie Xie
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Kai-Yun Fu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crop in Northwestern Oasis, Ministry Agriculture P.R. China, Urumqi, China
| | - Wei-Hua Jiang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China
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Takayama K, Ito R, Yamamoto H, Otsubo S, Matsumoto R, Ojima H, Komori Y, Matsuda K, Ihara M. Effects of cofactors RIC-3, TMX3 and UNC-50, together with distinct subunit ratios on the agonist actions of imidacloprid on Drosophila melanogaster Dα1/Dβ1 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 187:105177. [PMID: 36127041 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) require cofactors for functional heterologous expression. A previous study revealed that TMX3 was crucial for the functional expression of Drosophila melanogaster Dα1/Dβ1 nAChRs in Xenopus laevis oocytes, while UNC-50 and RIC-3 enhanced the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced responses of the nAChRs. However, it is unclear whether the coexpression of UNC-50 and RIC-3 with TMX3 and the subunit stoichiometry affect pharmacology of Dα1/Dβ1 nAChRs when expressed in X. laevis oocytes. We have investigated the effects of coexpressing UNC-50 and RIC-3 with TMX3 as well as changing the subunit stoichiometry on the agonist activity of ACh and imidacloprid on the Dα1/Dβ1 nAChRs. UNC-50 and RIC-3 hardly affected the agonist affinity of ACh and imidacloprid for the Dα1/Dβ1 nAChRs formed by injecting into X. laevis oocytes with an equal amount mixture of the subunit cRNAs, but enhanced current amplitude of the ACh-induced response. Imidacloprid showed higher affinity for the Dβ1 subunit-excess Dα1/Dβ1 (Dα1/Dβ1 = 1/5) nAChRs than the Dα1 subunit-excess Dα1/Dβ1 (Dα1/Dβ1 = 5/1) nAChRs, suggesting that imidacloprid prefers the Dα1-Dβ1 orthosteric site over the Dα1-Dα1 orthosteric site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Takayama
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Ryo Ito
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Haruki Yamamoto
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Shuya Otsubo
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Rei Matsumoto
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Hisanori Ojima
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Yuma Komori
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Matsuda
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan; Agricultural Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan.
| | - Makoto Ihara
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan.
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Colgan TJ, Arce AN, Gill RJ, Ramos Rodrigues A, Kanteh A, Duncan EJ, Li L, Chittka L, Wurm Y. Genomic signatures of recent adaptation in a wild bumblebee. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6521030. [PMID: 35134226 PMCID: PMC8845123 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental changes threaten insect pollinators, creating risks for agriculture and ecosystem stability. Despite their importance, we know little about how wild insects respond to environmental pressures. To understand the genomic bases of adaptation in an ecologically important pollinator, we analyzed genomes of Bombus terrestris bumblebees collected across Great Britain. We reveal extensive genetic diversity within this population, and strong signatures of recent adaptation throughout the genome affecting key processes including neurobiology and wing development. We also discover unusual features of the genome, including a region containing 53 genes that lacks genetic diversity in many bee species, and a horizontal gene transfer from a Wolbachia bacteria. Overall, the genetic diversity we observe and how it is distributed throughout the genome and the population should support the resilience of this important pollinator species to ongoing and future selective pressures. Applying our approach to more species should help understand how they can differ in their adaptive potential, and to develop conservation strategies for those most at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Colgan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Andres N Arce
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, SL5 7QN, United Kingdom.,School of Engineering, Arts, Science & Technology, University of Suffolk, Ipswich, IP3 0FS, United KingdomCurrent Address
| | - Richard J Gill
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, SL5 7QN, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Ramos Rodrigues
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, SL5 7QN, United Kingdom
| | - Abdoulie Kanteh
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth J Duncan
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Li Li
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Chittka
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Yannick Wurm
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom.,Alan Turing Institute, London, NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
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Matsuda K. Chemical and biological studies of natural and synthetic products for the highly selective control of pest insect species. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2021; 86:1-11. [PMID: 34694357 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbab187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Tanacetum cinerariifolium was known to produce pyrethrins, but the mechanism of pyrethrin biosynthesis was largely unclear. The author showed that the nonmevalonate and oxylipin pathways underlie biosynthesis of the acid and alcohol moieties, respectively, and a GDSL lipase joins the products of these pathways. A blend of the green leaf volatiles and (E)-β-farnesene mediates the induction of wounding responses to neighboring intact conspecies by enhancing pyrethrin biosynthesis. Plants fight against herbivores underground as well as aboveground, and, in soy pulps, some fungi produce compounds selectively modulating ion channels in insect nervous system. The author proposed that indirect defense of plants occurs where microorganisms produce defense substances in the rhizosphere. Broad-spectrum pesticides, including neonicotinoids, may affect nontarget organisms. The author discovered cofactors enabling functional expression of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). This led to understanding the mechanism of insect nAChR-neonicotinoid interactions, thus paving new avenues for controlling crop pests and disease vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiko Matsuda
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara 631-8505, Japan
- Agricultural Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Kindai University, Nara 631-8505, Japan
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Rosenthal JS, Yuan Q. Constructing and Tuning Excitatory Cholinergic Synapses: The Multifaceted Functions of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Drosophila Neural Development and Physiology. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:720560. [PMID: 34650404 PMCID: PMC8505678 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.720560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs) are widely distributed within the nervous system across most animal species. Besides their well-established roles in mammalian neuromuscular junctions, studies using invertebrate models have also proven fruitful in revealing the function of nAchRs in the central nervous system. During the earlier years, both in vitro and animal studies had helped clarify the basic molecular features of the members of the Drosophila nAchR gene family and illustrated their utility as targets for insecticides. Later, increasingly sophisticated techniques have illuminated how nAchRs mediate excitatory neurotransmission in the Drosophila brain and play an integral part in neural development and synaptic plasticity, as well as cognitive processes such as learning and memory. This review is intended to provide an updated survey of Drosophila nAchR subunits, focusing on their molecular diversity and unique contributions to physiology and plasticity of the fly neural circuitry. We will also highlight promising new avenues for nAchR research that will likely contribute to better understanding of central cholinergic neurotransmission in both Drosophila and other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin S Rosenthal
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Quan Yuan
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Matsuda K. Robust functional expression of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors provides new insights into neonicotinoid actions and new opportunities for pest and vector control. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2021; 77:3626-3630. [PMID: 33202087 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Neonicotinoids are selective modulators of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These widely deployed insecticides interact with the orthosteric sites of nAChRs, not only to activate nAChRs on their own, but also to block the desensitizing component of nAChR responses. To date recombinant vertebrate or insect/vertebrate hybrid nAChRs have been deployed to understand the mechanism of selectivity and diversity of neonicotinoid actions as well as to show that both α/α and α/non-α interfaces are involved in the interactions with neonicotinoids. However, many of the fine details of insecticide interactions with sites on nAChRs remain to be resolved. The breakthrough of functional expression of insect nAChRs allows such questions to be addressed, not only for neonicotinoids but for other insecticides targeting insect nAChRs. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiko Matsuda
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
- Agricultural Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Kindai University, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
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Cofactor-enabled functional expression of fruit fly, honeybee, and bumblebee nicotinic receptors reveals picomolar neonicotinoid actions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:16283-16291. [PMID: 32611810 PMCID: PMC7368294 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2003667117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neonicotinoids acting on insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are deployed for crop protection, but growing evidence for adverse effects on insect pollinators has led to restricted use of some neonicotinoids in the EU. It is therefore vital to understand the target site actions of neonicotinoids in pollinators, but to date the difficulties of heterologous expression of insect nAChRs have hampered progress. We have found that a thioredoxin (TMX3) enables robust functional expression of honeybee, bumblebee, and fruit fly nAChRs in Xenopus laevis oocytes. With this advance, we show that expressed bee nAChRs are more neonicotinoid-sensitive than those of fruit fly, and clothianidin can modulate both honeybee and bumblebee nAChRs at a concentration below that commonly observed in agricultural fields. The difficulty of achieving robust functional expression of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) has hampered our understanding of these important molecular targets of globally deployed neonicotinoid insecticides at a time when concerns have grown regarding the toxicity of this chemotype to insect pollinators. We show that thioredoxin-related transmembrane protein 3 (TMX3) is essential to enable robust expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes of honeybee (Apis mellifera) and bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) as well as fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) nAChR heteromers targeted by neonicotinoids and not hitherto robustly expressed. This has enabled the characterization of picomolar target site actions of neonicotinoids, findings important in understanding their toxicity.
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