MicroRNA PC‐5p‐3991_515 mediates triflumezopyrim susceptibility in the small brown planthopper through regulating the post‐transcriptional expression of P450 CYP417A2

Abstract BACKGROUND Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are recognized as a major contributor to metabolic resistance in insects to most insecticides, through gene overexpressions and protein mutations. MicroRNA (miRNA), an important post‐transcriptional regulator, has been reported to promote insecticide resistance by mediating the expression of detoxification enzyme genes. RESULTS In the present study, we reported that a novel microRNA PC‐5p‐3991_515 was involved in the post‐transcriptional regulation of CYP417A2 and mediated the triflumezopyrim susceptibility in the small brown planthopper (SBPH), Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén). The tissue expression profiles showed that CYP417A2 was highly expressed in fat body. CYP417A2 was significantly up‐regulated at 12, 36, 60, 84 and 108 h after the triflumezopyrim treatment. RNA interference (RNAi) against CYP417A2 significantly increased triflumezopyrim susceptibility in SBPH. According to the prediction by miRanda and TargetScan software, three miRNAs were indicated to bind to CYP417A2 . However, when oversupply of agomir, only two miRNAs, PC‐3p‐625_4405 and PC‐5p‐3991_515, significantly increased the susceptibility to triflumezopyrim and decreased CYP417A2 levels. Furthermore, PC‐5p‐3991_515 was confirmed to be involved in the post‐transcriptional regulation of CYP417A2 by dual luciferase reporter assay. Meanwhile, PC‐5p‐3991_515 was co‐localized with CYP417A2 in the midgut in situ hybridization. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed that the novel microRNA, PC‐5p‐3991_515, post‐transcriptionally regulated CYP417A2 expression, which then mediated the triflumezopyrim susceptibility in SBPH. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.