Pest Management Science (2016) 72, 162-171

Aleksandra Obrepalska-Steplowska, Anna Czerwoniec, Przemyslaw Wieczorek and Barbara Wrzesinska (2016)
Insight into the Meligethes aeneus voltage-sensitive sodium channel structure and an attempt to select the best pyrethroid ligands
Pest Management Science 72 (1), 162-171
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The voltage-sensitive sodium channel (VSSC) is a target for the pharmacological action of pyrethroids which are used in controlling pests, including those of agricultural importance. Among these is the pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus F.) – the most serious pest of Brassica napus. Owing to the heavy use of pyrethroids, a widespread build-up of resistance has occurred. The main cause of pyrethroid insensitivity in M. aeneus is considered to be an increased oxidative metabolism; however, the additional mechanism of resistance associated with mutations in the VSSC might contribute to this phenomenon.
RESULTS
We generated a VSSC 3D model to study the docking affinities of pyrethroids to their target site within the channel. Our goal was to identify the pyrethroids for which docking affinity scores were high and not affected by potential mutations in the VSSC. We found that the docking scores of cypermethrin are hardly influenced by the appearance of point mutations. Additionally, tau-fluvalinate, deltamethrin and bifenthrin are VSSC ligands with high affinity scores.
CONCLUSIONS
Our docking models suggest that point mutations in the VSSC binding pocket might affect the stability of ligand interactions and change the pattern of ligand docking locations, which might have a potential effect on VSSC gating properties.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Aleksandra Obrepalska-Steplowska

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pesticide resistance of pest

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Brassicogethes aeneus	Rape/canola (Brassica napus)