title: The insecticide DDT targets the OSCP and subunit D of the Apis mellifera ATP synthase.
abstract: 1,1-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-2, 2, 2-trichloroethane (DDT) has been used for control of malaria mosquitoes and other insect vectors of human diseases since 1945. Its use poses an environmental dilemma and efforts to replace it have been hampered by lack of information about its molecular target. This work identifies the 23 kDa band responsible for the DDT sensitivity in bees, as the OSCP and subunit "d" of the ATP synthase. The OSCP of the bee's ATP synthase contained 207 amino acids compared to 190 in bovine, which is insensitive to DDT, and the identities were only 47%. Subunit "d" of the bees had no counterpart in the bovine. Whether DDT is interacting only with OSCP, only with subunit "d", or with both subunits, remains to be assessed. Identification of the molecular target of DDT will lead the way to new target based insecticides aimed to protect plant, combat malaria and other insect transmitted diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Biochemical Toxicology, Department of Pesticide Chemistry & Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, El-Chatby, 21545 Alexandria, Egypt. hassanyounis@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hassan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Younis
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Reda K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Abdel-Razik
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rydström
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D002417:Cattle; D003634:DDT / Q000737:chemistry*; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry*; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D007306:Insecticides; D021122:Protein Subunits; D003634:DDT; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases