Molecular Mechanism of the UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 2B20-like Gene (AccUGT2B20-like) in Pesticide Resistance of Apis cerana cerana

Abstract

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), being multifunctional detoxification enzymes, play a major role in the process of resistance to various pesticides in insects. However, the mechanism underlying the molecular regulation of pesticide resistance remains unclear, especially in Apis cerana cerana. In this study, all of the UGTs in Apis cerana cerana (AccUGT) have been identified through the multiple alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Expression of AccUGT genes under different pesticides, and antioxidant genes after silencing of AccUGT2B20-like, were detected by qRT-PCR. The resistance of overexpressed AccUGT2B20-like to oxidative stress was investigated by an Escherichia coli overexpression system. Also, antioxidant-related enzyme activity was detected after silencing of the AccUGT2B20-like gene. Expression pattern analysis showed that almost all UGT genes were upregulated under different pesticide treatments. This result indicated that AccUGTs participate in the detoxification process of pesticides. AccUGT2B20-like was the major gene because it was more highly induced than the others. Overexpression of AccUGT2B20-like in E. coli could effectively improve oxidative stress resistance. Specifically, silencing the AccUGT2B20-like gene increased oxidative stress by repressing the expression of oxidation-related genes, decreasing antioxidant-related enzyme activity, and increasing malondialdehyde concentration. Taken together, our results indicate that AccUGTs are involved in pesticide resistance, among which, AccUGT2B20-like contributes to the detoxification of pesticides by eliminating oxidative stress in Apis cerana cerana. This study explains the molecular basis for the resistance of bees to pesticides and provides an important safeguard for maintaining ecological balance.

A scaffold-level genome assembly of a minute pirate bug, Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), and a comparative analysis of insecticide resistance-related gene families with hemipteran crop pests

“…UDP-glucosyltransferases (UGTs) are detoxification enzymes speculated to be involved in insecticide metabolism. Although the exact mechanisms of UGT-mediated resistance have not yet been identified, their upregulation has been shown in resistant strains of P. xylostella [ 35 ] and they have been linked to diamide resistance in Chilo suppressalis [ 114 ], neonicotinoid resistance in Diaphorina citri [ 115 ] and they also contribute to insecticide detoxification via the elimination of oxidative stress in Apis cerana [ 116 ].…”

UDP-Glucosyltransferases Induced by Nosema bombycis Provide Resistance to Microsporidia in Silkworm (Bombyx mori)

“…The UGTs that participate in detoxification of plant toxins can also result in cross-resistance to various pesticides [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], and therefore could be a crucial knock down target when developing novel pest control strategies to improve the natural toxicity of plants or chemicals to pests [ 29 ]. Besides being detoxification enzymes, UGTs are also involved in physiological processes [ 30 , 31 , 32 ], pigmentation [ 33 ], and odorant sensing [ 34 , 35 ].…”

A near-chromosome level genome assembly of the European hoverfly, Sphaerophoria rueppellii (Diptera: Syrphidae), provides comparative insights into insecticide resistance-related gene family evolution

“…Their upregulation has been shown in resistant strains of P. xylostella [ 37 ] and they have been linked to diamide resistance in Chilo suppressalis [ 98 ] and neonicotinoid resistance in Diaphorina citri [ 99 ]. They also contribute to insecticide detoxification via the elimination of oxidative stress in Apis cerana [ 100 ].…”