Cloning and expression of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II gene in Sitophilus zeamais and interaction mechanism with allyl isothiocyanate

Pestic Biochem Physiol. 2023 May:192:105392. doi: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105392. Epub 2023 Mar 12.

Abstract

In the United States, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) has been registered as an insecticide, bactericide, and nematicide. And it has been confirmed that AITC has significant insecticidal activities against four stored product pests including Sitophilus zeamais Mostchulky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). This study aimed to verify the mechanism of action of AITC on cytochrome c oxidase core subunits II in S. zeamais. Enzyme - catalyzed reactions and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) analysis revealed that the expressed COX II proteins could competitively bind and inhibit the activity of COX II. Furthermore, molecular docking results showed that a sulfur atom of AITC could form a 2.9 Å hydrogen bond with Ile-30, having a binding energy of -2.46 kcal/mol.

Keywords: Allyl isothiocyanate; Cytochrome c oxidase core subunits; Eukaryotic expression; Sitophilus zeamais.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / genetics
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / metabolism
  • Insecticides* / metabolism
  • Insecticides* / pharmacology
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Weevils* / genetics

Substances

  • 2,3,4-tri-O-acetylarabinopyranosyl isothiocyanate
  • cytochrome C oxidase subunit II
  • Electron Transport Complex IV
  • allyl isothiocyanate
  • Insecticides