V-ATPase C Acts as a Receptor for <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Cry2Ab and Enhances Cry2Ab Toxicity to <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>

Cry2Ab is a significant alternative <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> (<i>Bt</i>) protein utilized for managing insect resistance to Cry1 toxins and broadening the insecticidal spectrum of crops containing two or more <i>Bt</i> genes. Unfortunately, the identified rec...

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Main Authors: Pin Li, Yuge Zhao, Ningbo Zhang, Xue Yao, Xianchun Li, Mengfang Du, Jizhen Wei, Shiheng An
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/11/895
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author Pin Li
Yuge Zhao
Ningbo Zhang
Xue Yao
Xianchun Li
Mengfang Du
Jizhen Wei
Shiheng An
author_facet Pin Li
Yuge Zhao
Ningbo Zhang
Xue Yao
Xianchun Li
Mengfang Du
Jizhen Wei
Shiheng An
author_sort Pin Li
collection DOAJ
description Cry2Ab is a significant alternative <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> (<i>Bt</i>) protein utilized for managing insect resistance to Cry1 toxins and broadening the insecticidal spectrum of crops containing two or more <i>Bt</i> genes. Unfortunately, the identified receptors fail to fully elucidate the mechanism of action underlying Cry2Ab. Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of vacuolar H<sup>+</sup>-ATPase subunits A, B, and E (V-ATPase A, B, and E) in <i>Bt</i> insecticidal activities. The present study aims to investigate the contribution of V-ATPase C to the toxicities of Cry2Ab against <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>. The feeding of Cry2Ab in <i>H. armigera</i> larvae resulted in a significant decrease in the expression of V-ATPase C. Further investigations confirmed the interaction between V-ATPase C and activated Cry2Ab protein according to Ligand blot and homologous and heterologous competition assays. Expressing endogenous <i>HaV-ATPase C</i> in Sf9 cells resulted in an increase in Cry2Ab cytotoxicity, while the knockdown of V-ATPase C by double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA) in midgut cells decreased Cry2Ab cytotoxicity. Importantly, a higher toxicity of the mixture containing Cry2Ab and V-ATPase C against insects was also observed. These findings demonstrate that V-ATPase C acts as a binding receptor for Cry2Ab and is involved in its toxicity to <i>H. armigera</i>. Furthermore, the synergy between V-ATPase C protein and Cry2Ab protoxins provides a potential strategy for enhancing Cry2Ab toxicity or managing insect resistance.
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spelling doaj-art-a2bc7bc292d44958962e3556abebaee72025-08-20T01:53:53ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-11-01151189510.3390/insects15110895V-ATPase C Acts as a Receptor for <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Cry2Ab and Enhances Cry2Ab Toxicity to <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>Pin Li0Yuge Zhao1Ningbo Zhang2Xue Yao3Xianchun Li4Mengfang Du5Jizhen Wei6Shiheng An7Henan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaHenan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaHenan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaHenan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaDepartment of Entomology and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAHenan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaHenan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaHenan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCry2Ab is a significant alternative <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> (<i>Bt</i>) protein utilized for managing insect resistance to Cry1 toxins and broadening the insecticidal spectrum of crops containing two or more <i>Bt</i> genes. Unfortunately, the identified receptors fail to fully elucidate the mechanism of action underlying Cry2Ab. Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of vacuolar H<sup>+</sup>-ATPase subunits A, B, and E (V-ATPase A, B, and E) in <i>Bt</i> insecticidal activities. The present study aims to investigate the contribution of V-ATPase C to the toxicities of Cry2Ab against <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>. The feeding of Cry2Ab in <i>H. armigera</i> larvae resulted in a significant decrease in the expression of V-ATPase C. Further investigations confirmed the interaction between V-ATPase C and activated Cry2Ab protein according to Ligand blot and homologous and heterologous competition assays. Expressing endogenous <i>HaV-ATPase C</i> in Sf9 cells resulted in an increase in Cry2Ab cytotoxicity, while the knockdown of V-ATPase C by double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA) in midgut cells decreased Cry2Ab cytotoxicity. Importantly, a higher toxicity of the mixture containing Cry2Ab and V-ATPase C against insects was also observed. These findings demonstrate that V-ATPase C acts as a binding receptor for Cry2Ab and is involved in its toxicity to <i>H. armigera</i>. Furthermore, the synergy between V-ATPase C protein and Cry2Ab protoxins provides a potential strategy for enhancing Cry2Ab toxicity or managing insect resistance.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/11/895<i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i><i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>V-ATPase CCry2Abbindingtoxicity
spellingShingle Pin Li
Yuge Zhao
Ningbo Zhang
Xue Yao
Xianchun Li
Mengfang Du
Jizhen Wei
Shiheng An
V-ATPase C Acts as a Receptor for <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Cry2Ab and Enhances Cry2Ab Toxicity to <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>
Insects
<i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i>
<i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>
V-ATPase C
Cry2Ab
binding
toxicity
title V-ATPase C Acts as a Receptor for <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Cry2Ab and Enhances Cry2Ab Toxicity to <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>
title_full V-ATPase C Acts as a Receptor for <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Cry2Ab and Enhances Cry2Ab Toxicity to <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>
title_fullStr V-ATPase C Acts as a Receptor for <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Cry2Ab and Enhances Cry2Ab Toxicity to <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>
title_full_unstemmed V-ATPase C Acts as a Receptor for <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Cry2Ab and Enhances Cry2Ab Toxicity to <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>
title_short V-ATPase C Acts as a Receptor for <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> Cry2Ab and Enhances Cry2Ab Toxicity to <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>
title_sort v atpase c acts as a receptor for i bacillus thuringiensis i cry2ab and enhances cry2ab toxicity to i helicoverpa armigera i
topic <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i>
<i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>
V-ATPase C
Cry2Ab
binding
toxicity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/11/895
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