Abstract
We identify a cytochrome P450 gene (CYP6AE14) from cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), which permits this herbivore to tolerate otherwise inhibitory concentrations of the cotton metabolite, gossypol. CYP6AE14 is highly expressed in the midgut and its expression correlates with larval growth when gossypol is included in the diet. When larvae are fed plant material expressing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) specific to CYP6AE14, levels of this transcript in the midgut decrease and larval growth is retarded. Both effects are more dramatic in the presence of gossypol. As a glutathione-S-transferase gene (GST1) is silenced in GST1 dsRNA-expressing plants, feeding insects plant material expressing dsRNA may be a general strategy to trigger RNA interference and could find applications in entomological research and field control of insect pests.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Arabidopsis / genetics
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Arabidopsis / parasitology
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Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors*
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Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics
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Digestion
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Drug Resistance / genetics
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Gene Silencing
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Glutathione Transferase / antagonists & inhibitors
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Glutathione Transferase / genetics
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Gossypium / genetics
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Gossypium / parasitology
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Gossypol / toxicity*
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Insect Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Insect Proteins / genetics
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Larva / drug effects
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Larva / enzymology
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Larva / genetics
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Lepidoptera / drug effects
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Lepidoptera / enzymology*
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Lepidoptera / genetics
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nicotiana / genetics
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Nicotiana / parasitology
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Pest Control, Biological / methods*
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Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
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Plants, Genetically Modified / parasitology*
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RNA Interference*
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RNA, Double-Stranded / genetics
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RNA, Double-Stranded / metabolism
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RNA, Plant / genetics
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RNA, Plant / metabolism
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RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
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RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
Substances
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Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors
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Insect Proteins
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RNA, Double-Stranded
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RNA, Plant
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RNA, Small Interfering
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Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
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Glutathione Transferase
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Gossypol