Capsaicin is efficiently transformed by multiple cytochrome P450s from Capsicum fruit-feeding Helicoverpa armigera.

Capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is the most abundant capsaicinoids found in hot peppers (Capsicum annum and Capsicum frutescens). It has been well documented that capsaicin plays an important role in the defense against the attack of herbivores or pathogens on Capsicum plants. A few insect herbivores such as Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa assulta have been recorded to be capable of feeding on hot pepper fruits, suggesting that these insects evolve mechanisms against the toxicity of capsaicin. Although cytochrome P450-meidated detoxification is considered to be an important mechanism by which cotton bollworms cope with capsaicin, experimental evidence is lacking. In this study, we compared the capacity of four H. armigera P450s (CYP6B6, CYP9A12, CYP9A14 and CYP9A17) in capsaicin metabolism, and the capsaicin metabolites were screened and tentatively identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). HPLC analyses showed that depletion rates of capsaicin were 21.9 ± 0.1, 11.9 ± 1.5, 16.3 ± 1.4 and 14.8 ± 0.2 min-1 for CYP6B6, CYP9A12, CYP9A14 and CYP9A17 respectively. The transformation of capsaicin was inhibited by the P450 inhibitor piperonyl butoxide. A total of seven products were detected, and hydroxylation (aromatic and aliphatic) and dehydrogenation were found to be two main pathways in capsaicin metabolism. In addition, capsaicin metabolism was enzyme selective: M1 (ω-hydroxylated N-macrocyclic metabolite) and M3 (ω-hydroxylated metabolite) were uniquely detected in the CYP6B6 catalytic reaction, while M4 (ω-n hydroxylated capsaicin), M5 (diene of capsaicin) and M6 (doubly oxidized metabolite of dehydrogenated capsaicin) were only detectable in CYP9A metabolisms. A capsaicin dimer (5, 5'-dicapsaicin) was found to be the major metabolite of CYP9A reactions, but the minor product produced by CYP6B6. An overall more similar behavior in capsaicin metabolism was observed among CYP9As than between CYP6B6 and CYP9As. Our data demonstrate that CYP6B6 and CYP9As have a potent capability to transform capsaicin, and individual P450 produce unique metabolite profile. These findings help us to understand the molecular basis of capsaicin adaptation in H. armigera.