ABCH2 transporter mediates deltamethrin uptake and toxicity in the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii.

Contact insecticides are primarily used for the control of Anopheles malaria vectors. These chemicals penetrate mosquito legs and other appendages; the first barriers to reaching their neuronal targets. An ATP-Binding Cassette transporter from the H family (ABCH2) is highly expressed in Anopheles co...

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Main Authors: Mary Kefi, Vasileia Balabanidou, Chara Sarafoglou, Jason Charamis, Gareth Lycett, Hilary Ranson, Giorgos Gouridis, John Vontas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2023-08-01
Series:PLoS Pathogens
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1011226
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author Mary Kefi
Vasileia Balabanidou
Chara Sarafoglou
Jason Charamis
Gareth Lycett
Hilary Ranson
Giorgos Gouridis
John Vontas
author_facet Mary Kefi
Vasileia Balabanidou
Chara Sarafoglou
Jason Charamis
Gareth Lycett
Hilary Ranson
Giorgos Gouridis
John Vontas
author_sort Mary Kefi
collection DOAJ
description Contact insecticides are primarily used for the control of Anopheles malaria vectors. These chemicals penetrate mosquito legs and other appendages; the first barriers to reaching their neuronal targets. An ATP-Binding Cassette transporter from the H family (ABCH2) is highly expressed in Anopheles coluzzii legs, and further induced upon insecticide exposure. RNAi-mediated silencing of the ABCH2 caused a significant increase in deltamethrin mortality compared to control mosquitoes, coincident with a corresponding increase in 14C-deltamethrin penetration. RT-qPCR analysis and immunolocalization revealed ABCH2 to be mainly localized in the legs and head appendages, and more specifically, the apical part of the epidermis, underneath the cuticle. To unravel the molecular mechanism underlying the role of ABCH2 in modulating pyrethroid toxicity, two hypotheses were investigated: An indirect role, based on the orthology with other insect ABCH transporters involved with lipid transport and deposition of CHC lipids in Anopheles legs which may increase cuticle thickness, slowing down the penetration rate of deltamethrin; or the direct pumping of deltamethrin out of the organism. Evaluation of the leg cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) content showed no affect by ABCH2 silencing, indicating this protein is not associated with the transport of leg CHCs. Homology-based modeling suggested that the ABCH2 half-transporter adopts a physiological homodimeric state, in line with its ability to hydrolyze ATP in vitro when expressed on its own in insect cells. Docking analysis revealed a deltamethrin pocket in the homodimeric transporter. Furthermore, deltamethrin-induced ATP hydrolysis in ABCH2-expressing cell membranes, further supports that deltamethrin is indeed an ABCH2 substrate. Overall, our findings pinpoint ABCH2 participating in deltamethrin toxicity regulation.
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spelling doaj.art-a3e1618230854df5aa258abc451d826b2024-02-29T05:31:32ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Pathogens1553-73661553-73742023-08-01198e101122610.1371/journal.ppat.1011226ABCH2 transporter mediates deltamethrin uptake and toxicity in the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii.Mary KefiVasileia BalabanidouChara SarafoglouJason CharamisGareth LycettHilary RansonGiorgos GouridisJohn VontasContact insecticides are primarily used for the control of Anopheles malaria vectors. These chemicals penetrate mosquito legs and other appendages; the first barriers to reaching their neuronal targets. An ATP-Binding Cassette transporter from the H family (ABCH2) is highly expressed in Anopheles coluzzii legs, and further induced upon insecticide exposure. RNAi-mediated silencing of the ABCH2 caused a significant increase in deltamethrin mortality compared to control mosquitoes, coincident with a corresponding increase in 14C-deltamethrin penetration. RT-qPCR analysis and immunolocalization revealed ABCH2 to be mainly localized in the legs and head appendages, and more specifically, the apical part of the epidermis, underneath the cuticle. To unravel the molecular mechanism underlying the role of ABCH2 in modulating pyrethroid toxicity, two hypotheses were investigated: An indirect role, based on the orthology with other insect ABCH transporters involved with lipid transport and deposition of CHC lipids in Anopheles legs which may increase cuticle thickness, slowing down the penetration rate of deltamethrin; or the direct pumping of deltamethrin out of the organism. Evaluation of the leg cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) content showed no affect by ABCH2 silencing, indicating this protein is not associated with the transport of leg CHCs. Homology-based modeling suggested that the ABCH2 half-transporter adopts a physiological homodimeric state, in line with its ability to hydrolyze ATP in vitro when expressed on its own in insect cells. Docking analysis revealed a deltamethrin pocket in the homodimeric transporter. Furthermore, deltamethrin-induced ATP hydrolysis in ABCH2-expressing cell membranes, further supports that deltamethrin is indeed an ABCH2 substrate. Overall, our findings pinpoint ABCH2 participating in deltamethrin toxicity regulation.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1011226
spellingShingle Mary Kefi
Vasileia Balabanidou
Chara Sarafoglou
Jason Charamis
Gareth Lycett
Hilary Ranson
Giorgos Gouridis
John Vontas
ABCH2 transporter mediates deltamethrin uptake and toxicity in the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii.
PLoS Pathogens
title ABCH2 transporter mediates deltamethrin uptake and toxicity in the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii.
title_full ABCH2 transporter mediates deltamethrin uptake and toxicity in the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii.
title_fullStr ABCH2 transporter mediates deltamethrin uptake and toxicity in the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii.
title_full_unstemmed ABCH2 transporter mediates deltamethrin uptake and toxicity in the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii.
title_short ABCH2 transporter mediates deltamethrin uptake and toxicity in the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii.
title_sort abch2 transporter mediates deltamethrin uptake and toxicity in the malaria vector anopheles coluzzii
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1011226
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