A chloroplast localized heavy metal-associated domain containing protein regulates grain calcium accumulation in rice.

Calcium (Ca) is an essential mineral nutrient and plays a crucial signaling role in all living organisms. Increasing Ca content in staple foods such as rice is vital for improving Ca nutrition of humans. Here we map a quantitative trait locus that controls Ca concentration in rice grains and identify the causal gene as GCSC1 (Grain Ca and Sr Concentrations 1), which encodes a chloroplast vesicle localized homo-oligomeric protein.

Synthesis and activity-detection of photoswitchable ligands with fipronil to insect.

Background: Ionotropic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor (GABAR) in an insect is the major inhibitory receptor and is one of the most important targets for insecticides. Due to the high spatiotemporal resolution of GABAR, the photopharmacological ligands acting on it in vertebrates but not insect have been developed.

Results: In this study, two types of photochromic ligands (PCLs) including DTFIPs (DTFIP1 and DTFIP2) and ABFIPs (p-, m-, and o-ABFIP) were synthesized by incorporating photoswitch azobenzene or dithienylethene into fipronil (FIP), which is the antagonist of insect GABAR.

Sublethal doses of broflanilide prevents molting in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda via altering molting hormone biosynthesis.

Broflanilide is a novel insecticide with a unique mode of action on the insect GABA receptor and is registered worldwide for the control of agricultural pests. It shows high efficacy in controlling the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda, which is a destructive pest to various crops. FAW was exposed to sublethal concentrations of broflanilide to determine its impact on insect development.

Functional Characteristics of the Lepidopteran Ionotropic GABA Receptor 8916 Subunit Interacting with the LCCH3 or the RDL Subunit.

The ionotropic γ-aminobutyric acid (iGABA) receptor is commonly considered as a fast inhibitory channel and is an important insecticide target. Since 1990, RDL, LCCH3, and GRD have been successively isolated and found to be potential subunits of the insect iGABA receptor. More recently, one orphan gene named 8916 was found and considered to be another potential iGABA receptor subunit according to its amino acid sequence.

Novel alternative splicing of GABA receptor RDL exon 9 from Laodelphax striatellus modulates agonist potency.

The resistance to dieldrin gene (RDL) encodes the primary subunit of the insect ionotropic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor (GABAR), which is the target of phenylpyrazole and isoxazoline insecticides. The splice variants in exons 3 and 6 of RDL, which have been widely explored in many insects, modulate the agonist potency of the homomeric RDL GABAR and potentially play an important role in the development of insects. In the present study, four splice variants of exon 9 were identified in RDL of the small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus (LsRDL), resulting in LsRDL-9a, LsRDL-9a', LsRDL-9b, and LsRDL-9c.

Acute toxicity, bioconcentration, elimination, action mode and detoxification metabolism of broflanilide in zebrafish, Danio rerio.

Broflanilide, a novel meta-diamide insecticide, shows high insecticidal activity against agricultural pests and is scheduled to be launched onto the market in 2020. However, little information about its potential toxicological effects on fish has been reported. In this study, broflanilide showed low toxicity to the zebrafish, Danio rerio, with LC > 10 mg L at 96 h and also did not inhibit GABA-induced currents of the heteromeric Drα1β2Sγ2 GABA receptor.

Lethal and sublethal effects of fluralaner on the two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Background: Two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch is a serious agricultural pest and has developed high levels of resistance to many acaricides. Hence, screening new acaricides is important in the control of TSSM. Fluralaner, a novel isoxazoline, has high activity against agricultural and ectoparasitic pests; however, little information is available about its effects on agricultural mites.

Neurotoxicity and mode of action of fluralaner on honeybee Apis mellifera L.

Background: Fluralaner, a novel pesticide that targets the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor (GABAR) subunit of resistant to dieldrin (RDL), exhibits strong potential to be an insecticide to control agricultural insect pests. However, the risk and action of fluralaner to economic insects, e.g.

Interaction of insecticides with heteromeric GABA-gated chloride channels from zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton).

The ionotropic GABA receptor (GABAR) is the main fast inhibitory post-synaptic receptor and is also an important insecticidal target. Effect of insecticides on fish has attracted intensive attention. However, no systematic study on heteromeric zebrafish GABAR expressed in oocytes has been reported to date.

Molecular cloning, spatiotemporal and functional expression of GABA receptor subunits RDL1 and RDL2 of the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis.

Insect γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor (GABAR) is one of the major targets of insecticides. In the present study, cDNAs (CsRDL1A and CsRDL2S) encoding the two isoforms of RDL subunits were cloned from the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis. Transcripts of both genes demonstrated similar expression patterns in different tissues and developmental stages, although CsRDL2S was ∼2-fold more abundant than CsRDL1A throughout all development stages.