Tang Xiao-Tian, Ibanez Freddy, Tamborindeguy Cecilia
Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Insects. 2020 Apr 14;11(4):243. doi: 10.3390/insects11040243.
Concanavalin A (ConA), a legume lectin, has been drawing increasing attention in recent years concerning its toxicity against insects and its potential application in pest management. In an attempt to evaluate the effect of ConA on potato psyllid (), an economically important pest of solanaceous crops, the effect of ConA on potato psyllid survival, psyllid gut nuclear morphology, and expression of psyllid caspase genes were evaluated. Our results determined that artificial diet-feeding assays using ConA had deleterious effects on potato psyllids, resulting in significant psyllid mortality following ingestion. We also found that an apoptotic response was induced by ConA in psyllid midgut cells, which was demonstrated by the DNA fragmentation and abnormal nuclear architecture in the midgut cells. Following ConA ingestion, there was also upregulation of caspase genes in the psyllid midguts. Therefore, a key mechanism behind ConA toxicity towards potato psyllid probably involves the induction of apoptosis in midgut cells. This study could provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying ConA toxicity in insects and be a stepping stone towards the development of new psyllid control strategies based on plant lectins.
伴刀豆球蛋白A（ConA）是一种豆类凝集素，近年来，其对昆虫的毒性及其在害虫治理中的潜在应用受到了越来越多的关注。为了评估ConA对马铃薯木虱（一种对茄科作物具有重要经济影响的害虫）的作用，研究人员评估了ConA对马铃薯木虱存活率、木虱肠道细胞核形态以及木虱半胱天冬酶基因表达的影响。我们的结果表明，使用ConA进行人工饲料喂养试验对马铃薯木虱具有有害影响，导致其摄入后出现显著的死亡率。我们还发现，ConA在木虱中肠细胞中诱导了凋亡反应，这通过中肠细胞中的DNA片段化和异常核结构得以证明。在摄入ConA后，木虱中肠中的半胱天冬酶基因也出现了上调。因此，ConA对马铃薯木虱毒性的关键机制可能涉及中肠细胞凋亡的诱导。这项研究有助于更好地理解ConA对昆虫毒性的潜在机制，并为基于植物凝集素的新型木虱控制策略的开发奠定基础。
