Journal Article

Autophagy is involved in the toxicity of the biocontrol agent GC16 against Tetranychus pueraricola (Acari: Tetranychidae) based on transcriptomic and proteomic analyses

Zhu, Shusheng, He, Xiahong, Du, Guangzu, Zhu, Youyong, Guan, Huiming, Wang, Guang, Chen, Bin, He, Yanyan

2025

Overview

Background GC16 is a novel pesticide with acaricidal properties against the spider mite Tetranychus pueraricola (Ehara & Gotoh). Its physiological mechanisms have been described previously, but its molecular mechanisms of action remain unclear. Thus, we aimed to explore the acaricidal mechanisms of GC16 through transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. The results were verified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunofluorescence assay, and western blotting. Results Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed 2717 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 374 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the GC16-treated and control mites. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs and DEPs were enriched in the autophagy pathway. TEM showed that the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes was higher in the GC16-treated mites than in the control mites. Immunofluorescence assay and western blot results consistently indicated that GC16 treatment significantly enhanced the relative expression of the autophagy protein LC3 in insect Sf9 cells. The intracellular calcium concentration in the GC16-treated Sf9 cells was 2.30 times higher than that in the control cells, suggesting that GC16 disrupted calcium homeostasis and potentially acted as a calcium-driven nerve agent. Conclusions Autophagy is involved in the toxicity of GC16 against T. pueraricola and may be activated by elevated Ca 2+ levels. This study reveals the molecular insecticidal mechanisms of GC16 and provides rationale for the field application of GC16 to control pest mites.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Acaricides - pharmacology / Acaricides - toxicity / Agriculture / Animal Genetics and Genomics / Animals / Autophagy / Autophagy (Cytology) / Autophagy - drug effects / Autophagy - genetics / Biological control / Biological Control Agents - toxicity / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Calcium / Calcium (intracellular) / Calcium - metabolism / Calcium homeostasis / Calcium ions / Control / Enzymes / GC16 biopesticide / Gene Expression Profiling / Genes / Genetic aspects / Genetic research / Genomes / Homeostasis / Immunofluorescence / Insects / Life Sciences / Metabolism / Microarrays / Microbial Genetics and Genomics / Mites / Molecular modelling / Nerve agents / Pest control / Pesticides / Pests / Phagosomes / Physiological aspects / Plant Genetics and Genomics / Proteins / Proteome / Proteomic / Proteomics / Sf9 Cells / Tetranychidae / Tetranychidae - drug effects / Tetranychidae - genetics / Tetranychidae - metabolism / Tetranychus Pueraricola / Toxicity / Transcriptome - drug effects / Transcriptomic / Transcriptomics / Transmission electron microscopy / Western blotting