Cytochrome P450 Underpins Dinotefuran Resistance in the Whitefly .

Being a destructive pest worldwide, the whitefly has evolved resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides. The third-generation neonicotinoid dinotefuran has commonly been applied to the control of the whitefly, but its underlying mechanism is currently unknown. On the base of our transcriptome data, here we aim to investigate whether the cytochrome P450 underlies dinotefuran resistance in the whitefly. Compared to the susceptible strain, the gene was found to be highly expressed in both laboratory and field dinotefuran-resistant populations. Upon exposure to dinotefuran, the mRNA levels of were increased. These results demonstrate the involvement of this gene in dinotefuran resistance. Loss and gain of functional studies in vivo were conducted through RNAi and transgenic assays, confirming the role of in conferring such resistance. In a metabolism assay in vitro, the CYP6EM1 protein could metabolize 28.11% of dinotefuran with a possible dinotefuran-dm-NNO metabolite via UPLC-QTOF/MS. Docking of dinotefuran to the CYP6EM1 protein showed a good binding affinity, with an energy of less than -6.0 kcal/mol. Overall, these results provide compelling evidence that plays a crucial role in the metabolic resistance of to dinotefuran. Our work provides new insights into the mechanism underlying neonicotinoid resistance and applied knowledge that can contribute to sustainable control of a global pest such as whitefly.