Glutathione S-Transferase May Contribute to the Detoxification of (S)-(−)-Palasonin in Plutella xylostella (L.) via Direct Metabolism

Abstract

The control of P. xylostella primarily involves chemical insecticides, but overuse has brought about many negative effects. Our previous study reported that (S)-(−)-palasonin (PLN) is a plant-derived active substance with significant insecticidal activity against P. xylostella. However, we noticed a possible cross-resistance between (S)-(−)-palasonin and other insecticides which may be related to metabolic detoxification. In order to further explore the detoxification effect of detoxification enzymes on (S)-(−)-palasonin in P. xylostella, the effects of (S)-(−)-palasonin on enzyme activity and transcription level were determined, and the detoxification and metabolism of GSTs on (S)-(−)-palasonin were studied by in vitro inhibition and metabolism experiments. During this study, GST enzyme activity was significantly increased in P. xylostella after (S)-(−)-palasonin treatment. The expression levels of 19 GSTs genes were significantly increased whereas the expression levels of 1 gene decreased. Furthermore, (S)-(−)-palasonin is shown to be stabilized with GSTs and metabolized GSTs (GSTd1, GSTd2, GSTs1 and GSTs2) in vitro, with the highest metabolic rate of 80.59% for GSTs1. This study advances the beneficial utilization of (S)-(−)-palasonin as a botanical pesticide to control P. xylostella in the field.