BACKGROUND: Chitin produced by membrane-inserted chitin synthases is an important constituent of the arthropod cuticle and midgut peritrophic matrix. Chitin synthesis inhibitors are common insecticides in pest control. As the target of sulfonylurea-derived insecticides such as diflubenzuron, the ABC transporter sulfonylurea receptor (Sur) has been postulated to be an essential cofactor of chitin synthesis. However, direct evidence for this assumption is missing. RESULTS: Here, a study has been made of the phenotype of Drosophila melanogaster larvae suffering completely eliminated Sur function. Taken together, it is found that cuticle architecture is normal and chitin amounts are not diminished in the cuticle of these animals, indicating that Sur is dispensable for chitin synthesis. CONCLUSION: The data obtained suggest that there must exist another sulfonylurea-sensitive ABC transporter that either instead of Sur is the true sulfonylurea-sensitive transporter involved in chitin synthesis or is able to substitute Sur function during cuticle formation. Identification and characterisation of this factor is pivotal for understanding the mode of action of sulfonylurea as insecticide.
BACKGROUND:Chitin produced by membrane-inserted chitin synthases is an important constituent of the arthropod cuticle and midgut peritrophic matrix. Chitin synthesis inhibitors are common insecticides in pest control. As the target of sulfonylurea-derived insecticides such as diflubenzuron, the ABC transporter sulfonylurea receptor (Sur) has been postulated to be an essential cofactor of chitin synthesis. However, direct evidence for this assumption is missing. RESULTS: Here, a study has been made of the phenotype of Drosophila melanogaster larvae suffering completely eliminated Sur function. Taken together, it is found that cuticle architecture is normal and chitin amounts are not diminished in the cuticle of these animals, indicating that Sur is dispensable for chitin synthesis. CONCLUSION: The data obtained suggest that there must exist another sulfonylurea-sensitive ABC transporter that either instead of Sur is the true sulfonylurea-sensitive transporter involved in chitin synthesis or is able to substitute Sur function during cuticle formation. Identification and characterisation of this factor is pivotal for understanding the mode of action of sulfonylurea as insecticide.
Authors: Peter Demaeght; Edward J Osborne; Jothini Odman-Naresh; Miodrag Grbić; Ralf Nauen; Hans Merzendorfer; Richard M Clark; Thomas Van Leeuwen Journal: Insect Biochem Mol Biol Date: 2014-05-22 Impact factor: 4.714
Authors: Vassilis Douris; Denise Steinbach; Rafaela Panteleri; Ioannis Livadaras; John Anthony Pickett; Thomas Van Leeuwen; Ralf Nauen; John Vontas Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2016-12-05 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: J Joe Hull; Kendrick Chaney; Scott M Geib; Jeffrey A Fabrick; Colin S Brent; Douglas Walsh; Laura Corley Lavine Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-11-17 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Wannes Dermauw; Edward John Osborne; Richard M Clark; Miodrag Grbić; Luc Tirry; Thomas Van Leeuwen Journal: BMC Genomics Date: 2013-05-10 Impact factor: 3.969
Authors: Antonio Rogério Bezerra do Nascimento; Pablo Fresia; Fernando Luis Cônsoli; Celso Omoto Journal: BMC Genomics Date: 2015-11-21 Impact factor: 3.969