Biomaterial Database

Molecular biology of insecticide resistance. 1995

R Feyereisen

Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA.

The widespread use of insecticides has amounted to a large scale 'experiment' in natural selection of insects by chemicals of toxicological importance to humans. Specific examples in which the molecular basis of insecticide resistance has been studied in detail are presented here. The biochemical/physiological mechanisms of resistance can be categorized as target site insensitivity, increased metabolic detoxification and sequestration or lowered availability of the toxicant. These are achieved at the molecular level by: point mutations in the ion channel portion of a GABA receptor subunit (cyclodiene insecticides); point mutations in the vicinity of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) active site (organophosphorus and carbamate insecticide resistance); amplification of esterase genes (organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides); mutations linked genetically to a sodium channel gene (DDT and pyrethroid insecticides); and yet uncharacterized mutations leading to the up-regulation of detoxification enzymes, such as cytochrome P450 and glutathione S-transferases (many classes of insecticides). In several cases, the selection of a precisely homologous mutation has been observed in different insect species.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007305	Insecticide Resistance	The development by insects of resistance to insecticides.	Insecticide Resistances,Resistance, Insecticide,Resistances, Insecticide
D004330	Drosophila	A genus of small, two-winged flies containing approximately 900 described species. These organisms are the most extensively studied of all genera from the standpoint of genetics and cytology.	Fruit Fly, Drosophila,Drosophila Fruit Flies,Drosophila Fruit Fly,Drosophilas,Flies, Drosophila Fruit,Fly, Drosophila Fruit,Fruit Flies, Drosophila
D005784	Gene Amplification	A selective increase in the number of copies of a gene coding for a specific protein without a proportional increase in other genes. It occurs naturally via the excision of a copy of the repeating sequence from the chromosome and its extrachromosomal replication in a plasmid, or via the production of an RNA transcript of the entire repeating sequence of ribosomal RNA followed by the reverse transcription of the molecule to produce an additional copy of the original DNA sequence. Laboratory techniques have been introduced for inducing disproportional replication by unequal crossing over, uptake of DNA from lysed cells, or generation of extrachromosomal sequences from rolling circle replication.	Amplification, Gene
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015222	Sodium Channels	Ion channels that specifically allow the passage of SODIUM ions. A variety of specific sodium channel subtypes are involved in serving specialized functions such as neuronal signaling, CARDIAC MUSCLE contraction, and KIDNEY function.	Ion Channels, Sodium,Ion Channel, Sodium,Sodium Channel,Sodium Ion Channels,Channel, Sodium,Channel, Sodium Ion,Channels, Sodium,Channels, Sodium Ion,Sodium Ion Channel
D017354	Point Mutation	A mutation caused by the substitution of one nucleotide for another. This results in the DNA molecule having a change in a single base pair.	Mutation, Point,Mutations, Point,Point Mutations