A versatile contribution of both aminopeptidases N and ABC transporters to Bt Cry1Ac toxicity in the diamondback moth

• DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01226-1
• Publication Date: 2022-02-04T16:02:47Z
• Authors: Dan Sun; Liuhong Zhu; Le Guo; Shaoli Wang; Qingjun Wu; Neil Crickmore; Xuguo Zhou; Alejandra Bravo; Mario Soberón; Zhaojiang Guo; Youjun Zhang
• Keywords: Cry1Ac; Bacillus thuringiensis; Gene knockout

Abstract Background Biopesticides and transgenic crops based on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins are extensively used to control insect pests, but the rapid evolution of resistance seriously threatens their effectiveness. Bt is often polygenic complex. Mutations that confer occur in midgut proteins act as cell surface receptors for toxin, it thought they facilitate its assembly a membrane-damaging pore. However, mechanistic details action remain controversial. Results We have examined contribution two paralogous ABC transporters aminopeptidases N Cry1Ac toxicity diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella , using CRISPR/Cas9 generate series homozygous knockout strains. A double-gene strain, which ABCC2 ABCC3 were deleted, exhibited 4482-fold Cry1A significantly greater than previously reported single-gene knockouts confirming mutual functional redundancy these acting toxin P. . strain APN1 APN3a deleted 1425-fold providing most direct evidence date APN receptors, while also indicating redundancy. Genetic crosses yielded hybrid all four receptor genes this resulted > 34,000-fold resistance, both types need be present fully effective, there level between them. The highly resistant quadruple was less fit wild-type moths, no fitness cost detected double Conclusion Our results provide important toxicity. They support our overarching hypothesis versatile mode toxins, can compensate absence individual consistent with an interplay among diverse toxins’ mechanism super pest.