Molecular and biochemical characterization of the effects of insecticidal toxin from Meloidae beetles on Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).
The molecular and biochemical effects of an insecticidal toxin extracted from Meloidae beetles were investigated on Helicoverpa armigera. The toxin was identified as cantharidin, a well-known natural compound produced by beetles of family Meloidae and Oedemeridae. Furthermore, the effect of the toxin on the metabolic enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), responsible for the metabolism of insecticides, was also investigated. Results of a diet incorporation bioassay performed under laboratory conditions showed that the LC50 value of cantharidin was 0.068 mg/g. The body weight of the insect was also significantly reduced by cantharidin treatment. The LC10 concentration of cantharidin, 0.01 mg/g, was also tested to determine its effect on ALP and GST. Our results showed that cantharidin significantly inhibited ALP activity after 48 h, whereas GST activity was significantly inhibited after 24 h. The decline of ALP and GST transcript levels was also validated by semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis. It may be concluded from the results that ALPs and GSTs may be targets of the cantharidin intoxication mechanism. Moreover, the inability of ALP and GST to metabolize cantharidin shows that the mechanism of detoxification for cantharidin is different from that for conventional insecticides. On the basis of our investigations, the chemical structure of insecticides may be modified using a model structure of cantharidin, to avoid metabolism by metabolic enzymes.
Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
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Khan
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Rashid
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Wang
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Zhang
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004794:Enzyme Repression; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019476:Insect Proteins; D007306:Insecticides; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002193:Cantharidin