Comparison of catalytic properties and inhibition kinetics of two acetylcholinesterases from a lepidopteran insect

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the primary target of organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CB) insecticides. Many insect species have been shown to have two different AChE genes. The amino acid identity between the two lepidopteran AChEs is lower than 40%, and potential differences in enzymatic function have not been characterized. In this study, the cDNAs encoding two AChEs (Boma-AChE1 and Boma-AChE2) from Bombyx mandarina were sequenced, and the corresponding proteins were heterologously expressed to compare their enzymatic properties and interactions with insecticides in vitro. Both of these enzymes had high specific activities for acetylthiocholine iodide. Studies on substrate and inhibitor specificities confirmed that both enzymes belong to AChE. Insecticide inhibition assays indicated that Boma-AChE1 was more sensitive than Boma-AChE2 to eight of the nine insecticides tested. However, Boma-AChE2 was more sensitive than Boma-AChE1 to one of the OP insecticides, heptenophos. The results suggested that two AChEs from a lepidopteran insect have distinct catalytic properties and responses to different inhibitors.     

Comparative studies of acetylcholinesterases purified from two field populations of the oriental migratory locust (Locusta migratoria manilensis): implications of insecticide resistance

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was purified by affinity chromatography from two populations of the oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen), collected from Huanghua and Pingshan Counties, Hebei Province of China. The purification factors and yields were 1661-fold and 19.3%, respectively, for the Huanghua population, and 3897-fold and 39.6% for the Pingshan population. Both the purification factor and yield were significantly lower in the Huanghua population than in the Pingshan population. AChE activity was almost completely inhibited by 10⁻⁶ M eserine and BW284C51, but ?5.8% of AChE activity was inhibited by ethopropazine at the same concentration, suggesting that purified AChE from either population was a typical insect AChE. However, AChE purified from the Huanghua population was 62-, 2.0-, and 1.6-fold less sensitive to inhibition by the three organophosphate compounds, chlorpyrifos oxon, demeton-S-methyl, and paraoxon, respectively, than that from the Pingshan population. Significantly lower purification factor and low yield associated with reduced sensitivity of AChE to inhibition by the organophosphates indicated that AChE purified from the Huanghua population was biochemically and pharmacologically different from that of the Pingshan population. Reduced sensitivity of AChE appeared to contribute to organophosphate resistance in the locust from Huanghua County, where insecticides have commonly been used to manage outbreaks of the locust.     

药剂对小菜蛾抗性及敏感品系乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制作用比较

采用浸叶法测定了云南通海、元谋和澜沧的小菜蛾plutella xylostella田间种群对常用杀虫剂的抗药性。结果表明,云南上述地区小菜蛾田间种群对各类杀虫剂均产生了不同程度的抗性。对有机磷类药剂的抗药性为1.74~31.1倍;对菊酯类药剂的抗药性为7.41~764倍;对阿维菌素类药剂则产生了 5.60~4.06×104倍的抗性。通过离体和活体试验测定了药剂对小菜蛾头部乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)的抑制作用。敌敌畏和灭多威对通海抗性品系AChE离体和活体内的抑制中浓度(I50)分别是敏感品系的209、26.5倍和2.21、2.16倍;敌敌畏对通海小菜蛾种群的离体和活体内抑制中时间(IT50)小于敏感品系,分别是敏感品系的0.32和0.17倍;而灭多威对通海小菜蛾种群的离体和活体内抑制中时间(IT50)则大于敏感品系,分别是敏感品系的1.37和1.74倍。     

球孢白僵菌对亚洲玉米螟幼虫血细胞数量和包囊作用的影响

为明确亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis幼虫对球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana的细胞免疫作用,研究了注射不同剂量球孢白僵菌芽生孢子后亚洲玉米螟幼虫血细胞总数的时间动态变化和活体与离体条件下血细胞对芽生孢子的包囊作用。各处理组的血细胞总数均在注射后0.25 h达到一个低谷之后上升,注射剂量为102个/虫和103个/虫芽生孢子组血细胞总数在注射后24 h仍高于正常值,注射剂量为104个/虫和105个/虫芽生孢子组血细胞总数在注射后24 h低于正常值。在活体条件下亚洲玉米螟幼虫血细胞粘附在球孢白僵菌芽生孢子表面形成包囊;在离体条件下包囊形成的速度较慢,其致密程度不如活体状态。表明亚洲玉米螟幼虫对球孢白僵菌芽生孢子具有强烈的细胞防御能力。     

Cytochrome P-based resistance mechanism and pyrethroid resistance in the field Anopheles albimanus resistance management trial

The relative rates of cytochrome P⁴⁵⁰ selection in southern Mexican Anopheles albimanus populations were investigated during a 3 years indoor residual house spraying intervention with a pyrethroid (PYR) or DDT, a mosaic of organophosphate (OP)-PYR, and the annual rotation of OP-PYR-carbamate (CARB). This insecticide resistance mechanism, initially evenly spread in the mosquito population, correlated with PYR resistance during the second treated year, when cytochrome P⁴⁵⁰ contents increased in most villages of the PYR, rotation and mosaic schemes. However, by the third year, mean cytochrome P⁴⁵⁰ contents declined to susceptible levels in mosquitoes of the rotation and one mosaic group but not in the PYR-treated villages. In DDT-treated villages, a continuous decrement of cytochrome P⁴⁵⁰ levels occurred since the first treatment year, and susceptible levels were observed at the end of the intervention. Most correlations of cytochrome P⁴⁵⁰ levels and PYR resistance were lost during the third year, indicating that another mechanism evolved in resistant mosquito populations.     

Impact of malathion stress on lipid metabolism in Limnonectus limnocharis

Despite mounting concerns about amphibian population declines, information on impact of pesticides on physiological changes is meager. The present study deals the influence of an organophosphate pesticide—malathion on the lipid metabolism of Limnonectus limnocharis under laboratory conditions. Changes in the lipid metabolism were analyzed in the liver, muscle, ovary, and testis of frogs exposed to lethal (10.67 mg L⁻¹ for 1, 2, 3, and 4 days) and sub-lethal (2.13 mg L⁻¹ for 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 days) concentrations of malathion. Upon lethal concentration treatment, against the increase of fatty acids, glycerol, and lipase activities in all tested tissues, there was decrease in the total lipids content over different durations. On the other hand, exposure to sub-lethal concentration, the amount of total lipids content, free fatty acids, glycerol and lipase activity increased. Changes in the lipid metabolism due to lethal concentration of malathion exposure could depict the negative impact on the reproductive success, which would result in decline of amphibian population.     

Indoxacarb resistance in the house fly, Musca domestica

Indoxacarb (DPX-MP062) is a recently introduced oxadiazine insecticide with activity against a wide range of pests, including house flies. It is metabolically decarbomethoxylated to DCJW. Selection of field collected house flies with indoxacarb produced a New York indoxacarb-resistant (NYINDR) strain with >118-fold resistance after three generations. Resistance in NYINDR could be partially overcome with the P450 inhibitor piperonyl butoxide (PBO), but the synergists diethyl maleate and S,S,S-tributyl phosphorothioate did not alter expression of the resistance, suggesting P450 monooxygenases, but not esterases or glutathione S-transferases are involved in the indoxacarb resistance. Conversely, the NYINDR strain showed only 3.2-fold resistance to DCJW, and this resistance could be suppressed with PBO. Only limited levels of cross-resistance were detected to pyrethroid, organophosphate, carbamate or chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides in NYINDR. Indoxacarb resistance in the NYINDR strain was inherited primarily as a completely recessive trait. Analysis of the phenotypes vs. mortality data revealed that the major factor for indoxacarb resistance is located on autosome 4 with a minor factor on autosome 3. It appears these genes have not previously been associated with insecticide resistance.     

用酵母双杂交筛选与南瓜蚜传黄化病毒MP互作的寄主因子

植物病毒编码的移动蛋白(movement protein,MP)介导病毒在寄主体内的移动,研究其与寄主间的分子互作有助于揭示病毒侵染过程中的分子机制。将南瓜蚜传黄化病毒Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus(CABYV)MP基因定向克隆到含有DNA结合功能域(DNA-binding domain,BD)载体上,并构建与激活功能域(activation domain,AD)融合表达的西瓜茎叶cDNA文库,然后用MP为诱饵筛选文库寻找与其互作的寄主因子。结果表明,诱饵质粒插入的MP基因可读框和氨基酸序列均正确,对酵母菌株AH109和Y187没有自主激活能力;文库滴度为2.94×106CFU/mL,且大多数插入片段在700bp以上,质量符合筛选要求;经过筛选和共转化回转验证,有48个候选阳性克隆与MP在酵母中互作。测序得到这些克隆的cDNA序列,BLAST分析结果表明,这些克隆共编码12种蛋白。     

Biochemical determination of acetylcholinesterase genotypes conferring resistance to the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyriphos in field populations of Bemisia tabaci from Benin, West Africa

Resistance to chlorpyriphos insecticide in Bemisia tabaci from a field population collected in Benin, West Africa was suggested with bioassay showing the presence of two sub-populations. Patterns of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition by the organophosphate chlorpyriphos-oxon were analyzed to estimate the number of possible genotypes with different sensitivity expected in three B. tabaci field populations collected in Benin. The analysis of inhibition patterns in these populations compared with four laboratory strains of B. tabaci using chlorpyriphos-oxon allowed the differentiation of three possible genotypes. In the reference strain SUD-S we detected two different acetylcholinesterases with different sensitivity to chlorpyriphos oxon suggesting the presence of two genes ace 1 and ace 2. The proportion of the insensitive enzyme (ace 2) was estimated to be 31%. In field populations we can detect two alleles at the same gene locus ace 1: one susceptible ace1S and one resistant ace1R. Both strains called Arizona University and Mexico-S2 have lost sensitive ace1S but the field populations from Benin clearly contained at least three genotypes confirming heterogeneous populations not completely resistant.     

Activity changes of glyoxalase system enzymes and glutathione-S-transferase in the bivalve mollusc Scapharca inaequivalvis exposed to the organophosphate chlorpyrifos

The present report was aimed to study possible changes in the activity of glutathione-dependent enzymes glyoxalase I (G I) and glyoxalase II (G II), forming the glyoxalase system, and glutathione-S-transferase in tissues (gills, foot, and digestive gland) of the mediterranean bivalve mollusc Scapharca inaequivalvis, after a 4- or 15-day exposure to a sublethal concentration (0.1 ppm) of the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF). Control experiments were also performed on untreated animals. G I activity decreased in gills and foot, and increased in the digestive gland after 4 days of CPF exposure. Glyoxalase II activity in the gills decreased after a 15 days exposure to CPF, was unchanged in the foot and increased after 15 days in the digestive gland. Glutathione-S-transferase activity, which is involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics, increased significantly in all tissues after CPF exposure. The results suggest that sublethal CPF exposure of S. inaequivalvis does not compromise the cellular redox balance in these tissues.     

Cytogenetic effects of commercially formulated atrazine on the somatic cells of Allium cepa and Vicia faba

In the present study cytogenetic effects of atrazine herbicide, were examined on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa and Vicia faba. Test concentrations were chosen by calculating EC₅₀ values of formulated atrazine against both the test systems which determined to be 30 mg l⁻¹ for A. cepa and 35 mg l⁻¹ for V. faba, respectively. For cytogenetic effects root meristem cells of A. cepa were exposed to 15, 30 or 60 mg l⁻¹ whereas V. faba to 17.5, 35 or 70 mg l⁻¹ for 4 or 24 h. Roots exposed for 4 or 24 h, after sampling, were left in water for 24 h recovery and sampled at 24 h post-exposure. A set of onion bulbs or seedlings of V. faba exposed to DMSO (0.3%) was run parallel for negative control. Treatment of atrazine significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the mitotic index (MI) and induced micronucleus formation (MN) chromosome aberrations (CA) and mitotic aberrations (MA) in both the test systems at 4 or 24 h. Root meristem cells examined at 24 h post-exposure also revealed significant (p < 0.001) frequencies of MN, CA or MA despite considerable decline. Chromosome breaks and fragments were found to be major CA whereas C-metaphase, chromosome bridges and laggards were prevalent MA. Results of our study, indicate that atrazine may produce genotoxic effects in plants. Further, both the plant bioassays found to be sensitive indicators for the genotoxicity assessment as the outcome of majority of in vivo/in vitro mammalian tests are comparable.     

Partial purification and characterization of a methyl-parathion resistance-associated general esterase in Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Increased hydrolytic metabolism of organophosphate insecticides has been associated with resistance among Nebraska western corn rootworm populations. In this study, resistance-associated esterases were partially purified by differential centrifugation, ion exchange, and hydroxyapatite column chromatography, with a final purification factor of 100-fold and recovery of approximately 10%. Kinetic analysis of the partially purified enzyme indicated that the K_m of the group II esterases was identical for the two populations, although V_max was consistently threefold higher in the resistant population. A putative esterase, DvvII, was further purified to homogeneity by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. DvvII is a monomer with a molecular weight of approximately 66 kDa, although three distinct isoforms with similar pIs were evident based on isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis. Immunoassays with the Myzus persicae E4 antiserum indicated that group II esterases from D. v. virgifera were cross-reactive and expressed at much higher titers in the resistant population relative to the susceptible counterpart. These results suggest that the resistance is likely associated with overproduction of an esterase isozyme in resistant D. v. virgifera populations.     

The toxic effects of pyrethroid deltamethrin on the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) embryos and larvae

Deltamethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide contaminating aquatic ecosystems as a pollutant, was investigated in the present study for toxic effects on embryos and larvae of common carp, Cyprinus carpio as a model. The control and five test experiments were repeated five times. The water temperature in the experimental units was kept at 24 ± 1 °C. The number of dead embryos significantly increased in response to deltamethrin concentrations 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 5, 25, and 50 μg L⁻¹ (p<0.05 for each cases). Dose-response decreases in hatching success were recorded as 75.2, 64.6, 47.4, 26.0, 14.4, and 9.0%, respectively. The lowest concentration of deltamethrin (0.005 μg L⁻¹) produced a significantly decrease in number of dead larvae compared to control group (p<0.05). With increasing deltamethrin concentrations, the larvae exposed duration 1-48 h significantly increased the number of dead larvae (p<0.05 for each cases). The 48 h LC₅₀ values (with 95% confidence limits) of deltamethrin for common carp embryos and larvae were estimated as 0.213 (0.103-0.404) and 0.074 (0.011-0.260) μg L⁻¹, respectively. The results provide evidence that deltamethrin pollution may have an adverse effect on the reproduction and development of carp, which should be considered when this chemical is used in agricultural areas near aquatic ecosystems.     

苏云金杆菌亚致死浓度对美国白蛾及其寄生蜂生长发育的影响

为阐明苏云金杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)与白蛾周氏啮小蜂Chouioia cunea Yang的协同作用,分别用103~108孢子/m L的6个Bt浓度处理美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea 2龄幼虫后,通过室内试验测定了Bt对其致死、亚致死效应,及亚致死浓度Bt对寄生蜂子代出蜂的影响。结果表明,浓度106孢子/m L处理组美国白蛾均未能化蛹;而106孢子/m L处理组均能化蛹并羽化,且幼虫发育历期随Bt浓度的增加而延长,平均蛹重在74.92~92.18 mg之间,均高于对照的68.66 mg,但蛹重不呈线性规律变化。当Bt对美国白蛾平均校正死亡率低于17.17%时,幼虫发育历期延迟不明显,但平均蛹重为101.11~124.34 mg,均高于对照;接蜂后能够正常出蜂,出蜂率为33.13%~51.25%,每蛹出蜂量为117.43~143.42头,均显著高于对照。表明用平均校正死亡率低于20%的Bt处理对白蛾周氏啮小蜂的寄生有利,2种生防措施协同作用存在增效潜力。     

Molecular and biochemical mechanisms of organophosphate resistance in laboratory-selected lines of the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis)

Genetic and biochemical factors leading to resistance to various organophosphate (OP) based insecticides were studied in lines selected for OP-resistance in the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis. Lines were separately selected for resistance to naled, trichlorfon, fenitrothion, fenthion, formothion, and malathion. Overall, these lines showed increased resistance ratios ranging from 13.7- to 814-fold relative to a susceptible (S) line. Also, in these newly selected lines the same three point mutations in the ace gene, previously identified in resistance studies and designated as I214V, G488S and Q643R, were found. As expected, the enzyme from the resistant lines showed lower overall activity and reduced sensitivity to inhibition by fenitrothion, methyl-paraoxon and paraoxon compared to the wild type acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. The apparent V_max values for esterase from the resistant lines were 1.2-3.69 times higher than that of the S line. Although only the naled-, trichlorfon- and fenthion-r lines showed lower esterase affinities (based on apparent K_m values) compared with the S line, all of the V_max/K_m ratios were higher in the resistant lines compared to that of the S line. The OP-resistant lines also displayed an overall similar pattern of isozyme expression, except for one additional band found only in the naled-r line and one band that was absent in the trichlorfon-, malathion-, and fenthion-r lines. Our results also show that overall, multiple examples of high OP resistance in selected lines of B. dorsalis exhibiting the same genetic alterations in the ace gene seen previously resulted in different effects on esterase enzyme activity in relation to various OP compounds.