Transcriptional Response of ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) Transporters to Insecticide in the Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily is one of the largest groups of proteins and plays a non-negligible role in phase III of the detoxification process, which is highly involved in the response of insects to environmental stress (plant secondary metabolites and insecticides). In the present study, inNilaparvata lugens, we identified 32 ABC transporters, which are grouped into eight subfamilies (ABCA–H) based on phylogenetic analysis. The temporal and spatial expression profiles suggested that the nymphal stages (1st–5th) and adult males showed similarity, which was different from eggs and adult females, andNlABCA1,NlABCA2,NlABCB6,NlABCD2,NlABCG4,NlABCG12,NlABCG15, andNlABCH1were highly expressed in the midgut and Malpighian tubules. In addition,ABCG12, which belongs to the ABC transporter G subfamily, was significantly upregulated after exposure to sulfoxaflor, nitenpyram, clothianidin, etofenprox, chlorpyrifos, and isoprocarb. Moreover, verapamil significantly increased the sensitivity ofN. lugensto nitenpyram, clothianidin, etofenprox, chlorpyrifos, and isoprocarb. These results provide a basis for further research on ABC transporters involved in detoxification inN. lugens, and for a more comprehensive understanding of the response ofN. lugensto environmental stress.Keywords:ABC transporters;detoxification;Nilaparvata lugens;insecticides