The insect cys-loop ligand-gated ion channel (cysLGIC) superfamily includes nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, glutamate- or histamine-gated chloride channels (GluCls and HisCls), pH-sensitive chloride channels (pHCls) and several other functionally uncharacterized receptors. nAChRs, GABA receptors, and GluCls are target sites of neonicotinoid and other insecticides. Characterizing sequences of cysLGIC genes can facilitate the functional expression of subunits and allow insecticide/receptor interaction research. In addition, molecular resistance monitoring tools can be developed based on sequence characterization. The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is an agricultural pest that threatens the production of solanaceous crops and is famous for its frequent evolution of insecticide resistance. Here, I report the first systematic study of the cysLGIC gene superfamily in CPB. Twenty-two candidate CPB cysLGIC subunit genes were identified and their protein-coding sequences were annotated. In addition, a preliminary sequence analysis across CPB populations identified target site insensitivity mutations on GluCl and GABA receptors.
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