Characterization of acetylcholinesterases, and their genes, from the hemipteran species Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Aphis gossypii (Glover), Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood)

Insights into the Effects of Insecticides on Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae): Resistance Mechanisms and Molecular Basis

With the passage of time and indiscreet usage of insecticides on crops, aphids are becoming resistant to their effect. The different classes of insecticides, including organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids, have varied effects on insects. Furthermore, the molecular effects of these insecticides in aphids, including effects on the enzymatic machinery and gene mutation, are resulting in aphid resistance to the insecticides. In this review, we will discuss how aphids are affected by the overuse of pesticides, how resistance appears, and which mechanisms participate in the resistance mechanisms in various aphid species as significant crop pests. Gene expression studies were analyzed using the RNA-Seq technique. The stress-responsive genes were analyzed, and their expression in response to insecticide administration was determined. Putative insecticide resistance-related genes, cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferase, carboxylesterase CarEs, ABC transporters, cuticle protein genes, and trypsin-related genes were studied. The review concluded that if insecticide-susceptible aphids interact with ample dosages of insecticides with sublethal effects, this will result in the upregulation of genes whose primary role is to detoxify insecticides. In the past decade, certain advancements have been observed regarding insecticide resistance on a molecular basis. Even so, not much is known about how aphids detoxify the insecticides at molecular level. Thus, to attain equilibrium, it is important to observe the manipulation of pest and insect species with the aim of restoring susceptibility to insecticides. For this purpose, this review has included critical insights into insecticide resistance in aphids.

Metabolic mechanisms and acetylcholinesterase sensitivity involved in tolerance to chlorpyrifos-ethyl in the earwig Forficula auricularia

Apple orchards are highly treated crops, in which organophosphorus (OP) are among the most heavily sprayed insecticides. These pesticides are toxic to non-target arthropods and their repeated use increases the risk of resistance. We studied mechanisms involved in tolerance and resistance to OP insecticides in the earwig Forficula auricularia, an effective generalist predator in pomefruit orchards. Adult earwigs were sampled in three apple orchards managed under contrasting strategies: conventional, Integrated Pest Management, and organic. The threshold activities of enzyme families involved in pesticides tolerance: Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) and Carboxylesterases (CbEs) were measured in earwig extracts. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was monitored as a toxicological endpoint. Variations in these activities were assessed prior to and after exposure to chlorpyrifos-ethyl at the normal application rate. We observed that the mortality of earwigs exposed to chlorpyrifos-ethyl depended on the management strategy of orchards. Significantly lower mortality was seen in individuals sampled from conventional orchard. The basal activities of CbEs and GSTs of collected organisms were higher in conventional orchard. After in vivo exposure, AChE activity appeared to be inhibited in surviving males with no difference between orchards. However an in vitro inhibition trial with chlorpyrifos-oxon showed that AChE from earwigs collected in organic and IPM orchards were more sensitive than from conventional ones. These observations support the hypothesis of a molecular target modification in AChE and highlight the possible role of CbEs in effective protection of AChE. Our findings suggest that the earwigs with a high historic level of insecticide exposure could acquire resistance to chlorpyrifos-ethyl.

Identification and characterization of ace1-type acetylcholinesterase in insecticide-resistant and -susceptible Propylaea japonica (Thunberg)

Characterization and gene cloning of acetylecholinesterase (AChE) in the insecticide-resistant (R) and -susceptible (S) insects have been reported in the past. However, the studies focused mostly on herbivorous pests, rather than predacious species, such as ladybird beetles. Using R and S Propylaea japonica (thunberg), a full-length cDNA sequence (2928 bp) of the ace1-type AChE gene was determined for the first time. The ace1 encoding a protein of 645 amino acids contained typical conserved motifs, such as FGESAG domains, catalytic triad, acyl pocket, oxyanino hole, choline binding site, peripheral anionic site, omega loop and conserved aromatic residues. R P. japonica displayed 50-times greater resistance to chlorpyrifos or mathamidophos with a significantly lower AChE sensitivity to paraoxon, malaoxon, chlorpyrifos or methamidophos than its S counterpart. Five amino acids in the ace1 of R P. japonica differed from those found in S P. japonica. One of them, F358S, located in the acyl-binding pocket, might play a crucial role in the resistance of the insect to organophosphates (OPs). Whereas, K493E and I538V, which were close to some of the conserved aromatic amino acids (i.e., H509, Y511, and W499) in the gorge, and G571R and T576A near C593 that formed the disulfide bonds with C471, might also involve in the change of insecticide resistance in P. japonica. AChE insensitivity and amino acid replacements, particularly F358S, might be the determining factors in the alteration of OPs-resistance in P. japonica.

Modification of Cry4Aa toward Improved Toxin Processing in the Gut of the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

Aphids are sap-sucking insects (order: Hemiptera) that cause extensive damage to a wide range of agricultural crops. Our goal was to optimize a naturally occurring insecticidal crystalline (Cry) toxins produced by the soil-dwelling bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis for use against the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. On the basis that activation of the Cry4Aa toxin is a rate-limiting factor contributing to the relatively low aphicidal activity of this toxin, we introduced cathepsin L and cathepsin B cleavage sites into Cry4Aa for rapid activation in the aphid gut environment. Incubation of modified Cry4Aa and aphid proteases in vitro demonstrated enhanced processing of the toxin into the active form for some of the modified constructs relative to non-modified Cry4Aa. Aphids fed artificial diet with toxin at a final concentration of 125 μg/ml showed enhanced mortality after two days for one of the four modified constructs. Although only modest toxin improvement was achieved by use of this strategy, such specific toxin modifications designed to overcome factors that limit aphid toxicity could be applied toward managing aphid populations via transgenic plant resistance.

Identification of a point mutation in the ace1 gene of Therioaphis trifolli maculata and detection of insecticide resistance by a diagnostic PCR-RFLP assay

Aphids are important agricultural pests worldwide. Their control is largely based on chemical insecticides. One species that shows important invasive abilities and host-plant-related differences is Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). T. trifolii maculata, also known as spotted alfalfa aphid (SAA), can be very injurious to alfalfa crops in certain regions, such as in Saudi Arabia for effective control it is essential to diagnose and monitor the resistance mechanisms in the SAA populations. In the present study, we analysed acetylcholinesterase (ace) target site insensitivity mechanisms. A 650 bp length DNA containing the putative acetylcholinesterase (ace1) precursor was obtained and compared with other Hemipteran species. The sequences of many individual aphids collected from alfalfa crops in Saudi Arabia were analysed for the presence of resistance mutations: no resistance mutations were found at the resistance mutation loci 302; however, the presence of a serine-phenylalanine substitution (S431F) was identified in one individual. The S431F substitution, has been shown to confer significant levels of both organophosphate and carbamate resistance in other aphid species, and is now found for the first time in T. trifolii. We subsequently developed a simple polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays for the S431F mutation, using a TaqI restriction site destroyed by the S431F mutation. The novel diagnostic assay may support the implementation of Insecticide Resistance Management strategies, for the control of SAA in alfalfa crops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and other countries worldwide.

The evolution of insecticide resistance in the peach potato aphid, Myzus persicae

The peach potato aphid, Myzus persicae is a globally distributed crop pest with a host range of over 400 species including many economically important crop plants. The intensive use of insecticides to control this species over many years has led to populations that are now resistant to several classes of insecticide. Work spanning over 40 years has shown that M. persicae has a remarkable ability to evolve mechanisms that avoid or overcome the toxic effect of insecticides with at least seven independent mechanisms of resistance described in this species to date. The array of novel resistance mechanisms, including several 'first examples', that have evolved in this species represents an important case study for the evolution of insecticide resistance and also rapid adaptive change in insects more generally. In this review we summarise the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying resistance in M. persicae and the insights study of this topic has provided on how resistance evolves, the selectivity of insecticides, and the link between resistance and host plant adaptation.

Identification and characterization of ace2-type acetylcholinesterase in insecticide-resistant and -susceptible parasitoid wasp Oomyzus sokolowskii (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

A full-length acetylcholinesterase (AChE) cDNA sequence (Os-ace2.s) from insecticide-susceptible (S) parasitoid Oomyzus sokolowskii (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and a partial cDNA sequence (Os-ace2.r) from insecticide- resistant (R) O. sokolowskii were identified firstly. Both Os-ace2.s (encoding a protein of 639 amino acid residues) and Os-ace2.r (encoding a protein of 530 amino acid residues) contained the typical conserved motifs, including FGESAGdomains, catalytic triad, acyl pocket, three oxy-anino hole, choline binding site, peripheral anionic site, omega loop and conserved aromatic residues. The multiple alignment and Blast results indicated that Os-ace2.s were ace2 member of AChE gene. There were three replacements of the amino acid residues (Glu 115 Leu, Phe 394 Leu, and Lys 424 Arg) between Os-ace2.s and Os-ace2.r. The ace2 of O. sokolowskii was the AChE gene firstly isolated from hymenopteran parasitoid so far. R O. sokolowskii displayed about 15-20-folds resistance ratios to methamidophos and avermectin. The bimolecular rate constant (k i) value in S O. sokolowskii was 3.8-folds for methamidophos and 12.3 for dichlorvos, respectively higher than those in R O. sokolowskii. The results indicated that the insensitive AChE and replacements of the amino acid residues in Os-ace2 might be involved in the resistance to methamidophos in R O. sokolowskii.

Detection and geographical distribution of the organophosphate resistance-associated Δ3Q ace mutation in the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi)

BACKGROUND

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is the most important pest of olives. Its control is based mostly on organophosphate (OP) insecticides, a practice that has led to resistance development. OP resistance in B. oleae has been associated with three mutations in the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the product of ace gene. The current study presents new diagnostic tests for the detection of the ace mutations and aims at monitoring the frequency of the Δ3Q mutation, which appears associated with resistance at higher OP doses in natural olive fly populations.

RESULTS

An allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) and a Taq-Man test were developed for the Δ3Q mutation detection and a new duplex quantitative PCR assay was designed for the G488S and I214V mutations. Moreover, the frequency of Δ3Q mutation was examined in ten populations of eight countries around the Mediterranean basin. The highest frequencies (10%) were found in Greece and Italy, whereas a gradual decrease of Δ3Q frequency towards the western Mediterranean was noted.

CONCLUSION

Robust tests for insecticide resistance mutations at their incipient levels are essential tools to monitor the increase and geographical spread of such mutations. Three different tests were developed for AChE-Δ3Q that indicated its association with OP applications across the Mediterranean.

Altered GPI modification of insect AChE improves tolerance to organophosphate insecticides

The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae is the most destructive and intractable pest of olives. The management of B. oleae has been based on the use of organophosphate (OP) insecticides, a practice that induced resistance. OP-resistance in the olive fly was previously shown to be associated with two mutations in the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme that, apparently, hinder the entrance of the OP into the active site. The search for additional mutations in the ace gene that encodes AChE revealed a short deletion of three glutamines (Δ3Q) from a stretch of five glutamines, in the C-terminal peptide that is normally cleaved and substituted by a GPI anchor. We verified that AChEs from B. oleae and other Dipterans are actually GPI-anchored, although this is not predicted by the "big-PI" algorithm. The Δ3Q mutation shortens the unusually long hydrophilic spacer that follows the predicted GPI attachment site and may thus improve the efficiency of GPI anchor addition. We expressed the wild type B. oleae AChE, the natural mutant Δ3Q and a constructed mutant lacking all 5 consecutive glutamines (Δ5Q) in COS cells and compared their kinetic properties. All constructs presented identical K(m) and k(cat) values, in agreement with the fact that the mutations did not affect the catalytic domain of the enzyme. In contrast, the mutants produced higher AChE activity, suggesting that a higher proportion of the precursor protein becomes GPI-anchored. An increase in the number of GPI-anchored molecules in the synaptic cleft may reduce the sensitivity to insecticides.

Organophosphates' resistance in the B-biotype of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is associated with a point mutation in an ace1-type acetylcholinesterase and overexpression of carboxylesterase

Organophosphate (OP) insecticides are inhibitors of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which terminates nerve impulses by catalyzing the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Previous biochemical studies in Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) proposed the existence of two molecular mechanisms for OPs' resistance: carboxylesterase- (COE) mediated hydrolysis or sequestration and decreased sensitivity of AChE. Here, two acetylcholinesterase genes, ace1 and ace2, have been fully cloned and sequenced from an OP-resistant strain and an OP-susceptible strain of B. tabaci. Comparison of nucleic acid and deduced amino acid sequences revealed only silent nucleotide polymorphisms in ace2, and one mutation, Phe392Trp (Phe331 in Torpedo californica), in ace1 of the resistant strain. The Phe392Trp mutation is located in the acyl pocket of the active site gorge and was recently shown to confer OP insensitivity in Culex tritaeniorhynchus. In addition, we also report on the isolation of two carboxylesterase genes (coe1 and coe2) from B. tabaci, the first carboxylesterases to be reported from this species. We show that one of the genes, coe1, is overexpressed ( approximately 4-fold) in the OP-resistant strain, and determine, by quantitative PCR, that the elevated expression is not related to gene amplification but probably to modified transcriptional control. Lastly, we bring new biochemical evidence that support the involvement of both AChE insensitivity and COE metabolism in resistance to OP insecticides in the resistant strain.

A small deletion in the olive fly acetylcholinesterase gene associated with high levels of organophosphate resistance

Organophosphate resistance in the olive fly was previously shown to associate with two point mutations in the ace gene. The frequency of these mutations was monitored in Bactrocera oleae individuals of increasing resistance. In spite of the difference in resistance among the individuals, there was no correlation between mutation frequencies and resistance level, indicating that other factors may contribute to this variation. The search for additional mutations in the ace gene of highly resistant insects revealed a small deletion at the carboxyl terminal of the protein (termed Delta3Q). Significant correlation was shown between the mutation frequency and resistance level in natural populations. In addition, remaining activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) after dimethoate inhibition was higher in genotypes carrying the mutation. These results strongly suggest a role of Delta3Q in high levels of organophosphate (OP) resistance. Interestingly, the carboxyl terminal of AChE is normally cleaved and substituted by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. We hypothesize that Delta3Q may improve GPI anchoring, thus increasing the amount of AChE that reaches the synaptic cleft. In this way, despite the presence of insecticide, enough enzyme would remain in the cleft for its normal role of acetylcholine hydrolysis, allowing the insect to survive. This provides a previously un-described mechanism of resistance.

Establishing the resistance of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) by molecular methods

In two years of investigating resistance of the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) by molecular methods, several types of resistance were established in the majority of individuals from peach and tobacco in Serbia and Montenegro. Most of the tested individuals had the FE4 gene, which encodes production of FE4 esterase. The gene responsible for kdr (knock-down resistance) was found in the majority of individuals, but in the heterozygous state, while resistance based on formation of modified acetlycholinesterase (MACE) was least represented. Also, tests showed aphids from tobacco to be more sensitive to insecticide action than aphids from peach. Three tests were used in these investiga?tions, e.g., the PCR - esterase, PCR - kdr, and RFLP - PCR tests, each for a single type of resistance.

Mutations in the acetylcholinesterase gene of Bactrocera dorsalis associated with resistance to organophosphorus insecticides

Mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, associated with resistance to an organophosphorus insecticide have been characterized. Three point mutations producing nonsynonymous changes in the predicted amino acid sequence of the product of the B. dorsalis ace gene in resistant vs. susceptible flies have been identified. One of these changes is unique to B. dorsalis while the other two occur at sites that are identical to mutations previously described for another Bactrocera species. Although the precise role of the third mutation is not clearly established, the independent origin of two identical alterations in these two species strongly supports the idea proposed previously that molecular changes associated with insecticide resistance in key genes and enzymes such as AChE are largely constrained to a limited number of sites. The results obtained here also suggest that the widespread use of organophosphorus insecticides will likely lead to a predictable acquisition of resistance in wild populations of B. dorsalis as well as other pest species. For surveys of B. dorsalis populations that may develop resistance, diagnostic tests using PCR-RFLP based methods for detecting the presence of all three mutations in individual flies are described.

Large-scale gene discovery in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera)

Aphids are the leading pests in agricultural crops. A large-scale sequencing of 40,904 ESTs from the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum was carried out to define a catalog of 12,082 unique transcripts. A strong AT bias was found, indicating a compositional shift between Drosophila melanogaster and A. pisum. An in silico profiling analysis characterized 135 transcripts specific to pea-aphid tissues (relating to bacteriocytes and parthenogenetic embryos). This project is the first to address the genetics of the Hemiptera and of a hemimetabolous insect.

Mutations of acetylcholinesterase which confer insecticide resistance in insect populations

Resistance-modified acetylcholinesterases have been described in many insect species and sequencing of their genes has allowed several point mutations to be described. Most mutations line the active site gorge. Each mutation provides a specific resistance pattern: it confers resistance to one insecticide but may increase sensitivity to another. Most mutations alter hydrolysis of the substrate by decreasing the rate of enzyme deacetylation and by diminishing the stability of the enzyme. Mutations are often found in combination in the same protein. This has several consequences: it increases the level of resistance, it enlarges the spectrum of resistance and it may restore the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme. Natural populations are heterogeneous, composed of a mixture of different alleles.

Identification of mutations conferring insecticide-insensitive AChE in the cotton-melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover

We have identified two mutations in the ace1 gene of Aphis gossypii that are associated with insensitivity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) to carbamate and organophosphate insecticides. The first of these, S431F (equivalent to F331 in Torpedo californica), is associated with insensitivity to the carbamate insecticide pirimicarb in a range of A. gossypii clones. The S431F mutation is also found in the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and a rapid RFLP diagnostic allows the identification of individuals of both aphid species with a resistant genotype. This diagnostic further revealed the presence of S431 in several other pirimicarb-susceptible aphid species. The serine at this position in the wild-type enzyme has only been reported for aphids and provides a molecular explanation of why pirimicarb has a specific aphicidal action. A less specific insensitivity to a wide range of carbamates and organophosphates is associated with a second mutation, A302S (A201 in T. californica).

Mutations in acetylcholinesterase associated with insecticide resistance in the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover

Two acetylcholinesterase genes, Ace1 and Ace2, have been fully cloned and sequenced from both organophosphate-resistant and susceptible clones of cotton aphid. Comparison of both nucleic acid and deduced amino acid sequences revealed considerable nucleotide polymorphisms. Further study found that two mutations occurred consistently in all resistant aphids. The mutation F139L in Ace2 corresponding to F115S in Drosophila acetylcholinesterase might reduce the enzyme sensitivity and result in insecticide resistance. The other mutation A302S in Ace1 abutting the conserved catalytic triad might affect the activity and insecticide sensitivity of the enzyme. Phylogenetic analysis showed that insect acetylcholinesterases fall into two subgroups, of which Ace1 is the paralogous gene whereas Ace2 is the orthologous gene of Drosophila AChE. Both subgroups contain resistance-associated AChE genes. To avoid confusion in the future work, a nomenclature of insect AChE is also suggested in the paper.