Resistance mutation conserved between insects and mites unravels the benzoylurea insecticide mode of action on chitin biosynthesis

Douris, Vassilis, Steinbach, Denise, Panteleri, Rafaela, Livadaras, Ioannis, Pickett, John Anthony ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1008-6595, Van Leeuwen, Thomas, Nauen, Ralf and Vontas, John 2016. Resistance mutation conserved between insects and mites unravels the benzoylurea insecticide mode of action on chitin biosynthesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113 (51) , pp. 14692-14697. 10.1073/pnas.1618258113

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Abstract

Despite the major role of chitin biosynthesis inhibitors such as benzoylureas (BPUs) in the control of pests in agricultural and public health for almost four decades, their molecular mode of action (MoA) has in most cases remained elusive. BPUs interfere with chitin biosynthesis and were thought to interact with sulfonylurea receptors that mediate chitin vesicle transport. Here, we uncover a mutation (I1042M) in the chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene of BPU-resistant Plutella xylostella at the same position as the I1017F mutation reported in spider mites that confers etoxazole resistance. Using a genome-editing CRISPR/Cas9 approach coupled with homology-directed repair (HDR) in Drosophila melanogaster, we introduced both substitutions (I1056M/F) in the corresponding fly CHS1 gene (kkv). Homozygous lines bearing either of these mutations were highly resistant to etoxazole and all tested BPUs, as well as buprofezin—an important hemipteran chitin biosynthesis inhibitor. This provides compelling evidence that BPUs, etoxazole, and buprofezin share in fact the same molecular MoA and directly interact with CHS. This finding has immediate effects on resistance management strategies of major agricultural pests but also on mosquito vectors of serious human diseases such as Dengue and Zika, as diflubenzuron, the standard BPU, is one of the few effective larvicides in use. The study elaborates on how genome editing can directly, rapidly, and convincingly elucidate the MoA of bioactive molecules, especially when target sites are complex and hard to reconstitute in vitro.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Chemistry
Publisher:	National Academy of Sciences
ISSN:	0027-8424
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	22 November 2017
Date of Acceptance:	5 December 2016
Last Modified:	20 Nov 2024 14:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/106897

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