DDT resistance in Drosophila correlates with Cyp6g1 over-expression and confers cross-resistance to the neonicotinoid imidacloprid

Mol Genet Genomics. 2001 Dec;266(4):556-63. doi: 10.1007/s004380100531. Epub 2001 Oct 5.

Abstract

Mutagenesis can be used as a means of predicting likely mechanisms of resistance to novel classes of insecticides. We used chemical mutagenesis in Drosophila to screen for mutants that had become resistant to imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide. Here we report the isolation of two new dominant imidacloprid-resistant mutants. By recombinational mapping we show that these map to the same location as Rst(2)DDT. Furthermore, we show that pre-existing Rst(2)DDT alleles in turn confer cross-resistance to imidacloprid. In order to localize the Rst(2)DDT gene more precisely, we mapped resistance to both DDT and imidacloprid with respect to P-element markers whose genomic location is known. By screening for recombinants between these P-elements and resistance we localized the gene between 48D5-6 and 48F3-6 on the polytene chromosome map. The genomic sequence in this interval shows a cluster of cytochrome P450 genes, one of which, Cyp6g1, is over-expressed in all resistant strains examined. We are now testing the hypothesis that resistance to both compounds is associated with over-expression of this P450 gene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / biosynthesis
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics*
  • DDT / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drosophila Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / drug effects*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drug Resistance / genetics
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Insecticides / pharmacology*
  • Neonicotinoids
  • Nitro Compounds
  • Plants
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Imidazoles
  • Insecticides
  • Neonicotinoids
  • Nitro Compounds
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • imidacloprid
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • DDT
  • Cyp6g1 protein, Drosophila