Co-Expression of a Homologous Cytochrome P450 Reductase Is Required for In Vivo Validation of the <i>Tetranychus urticae</i> CYP392A16-Based Abamectin Resistance in <i>Drosophila</i>

• Main Authors: Maria Riga, Aris Ilias, John Vontas, Vassilis Douris
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
• Series: Insects
• Subjects: detoxification; cytochrome P450; cytochrome P450 reductase; abamectin; <i>Tetranychus</i>; transgenic <i>Drosophila</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/12/829

Overexpression of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP392A16 has been previously associated with abamectin resistance using transcriptional analysis in the two-spotted spider mite <i>Tetranychus urticae</i>, an important pest species worldwide; however, this association has not been functionally validated in vivo despite the demonstrated ability of CYP392A16 to metabolize abamectin in vitro. We expressed CYP392A16 in vivo via a Gal4 transcription activator protein/Upstream Activating Sequence (GAL4/UAS) system in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> flies, driving expression with detoxification tissue-specific drivers. We demonstrated that CYP392A16 expression confers statistically significant abamectin resistance in toxicity bioassays in <i>Drosophila</i> only when its homologous redox partner, cytochrome P450 reductase (TuCPR), is co-expressed in transgenic flies. Our study shows that the <i>Drosophila</i> model can be further improved, to facilitate the functional analysis of insecticide resistance mechanisms acting alone or in combination.