An insensitive acetylcholinesterase confers resistance to methomyl in the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Two forms of acetylcholinesterase were identified in field populations of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), collected from cotton in San Joaquin Valley, CA. Strains (BESS and BKRR) homogeneous for each variant were isolated and their relative susceptibilities to methomyl, chlorpyrifos, and chlorpyrifos-oxon assessed by topical application bioassay. In comparisons with a laboratory susceptible strain (DOW), BKRR and BESS expressed 68-fold and sevenfold resistance, respectively, to the carbamate methomyl. Neither strain was cross-resistant to chlorpyrifos or its oxygen analog (chlorpyrifos-oxon). In biochemical studies, the BKRR AChE enzyme was approximately 30-fold and sixfold more insensitive to methomyl and chlorpyrifos-oxon, respectively, compared with the DOW enzyme. The correlation between the toxicological and biochemical studies provides strong evidence that target-site insensitivity is an important mechanism of resistance to methomyl. The lack of significant cross-resistance to chlorpyrifos suggests that the insensitive AChE in these field populations was selected by methomyl alone and not by the organophosphate.     

An acetylcholinesterase purified from the greenbug (Schizaphis graminum) with some unique enzymological and pharmacological characteristics

An acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) was purified from the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani). The maximum velocities (Vmax) for hydrolyzing acetylthiocholine (ATC), acetyl-(beta-methyl) thiocholine (AbetaMTC), propionylthiocholine, and S-butyrylthiocholine were 78.0, 67.0, 37.4, and 2.3 micromol/min/mg, and the Michaelis constants (Km) were 57.6, 60.6, 31.3, and 33.4 microM, respectively. More than 98% of AChE activity was inhibited by 10 microM eserine or BW284C51, but only 7% of the activity was inhibited by ethopropazine at the same concentration. Based on the substrate and inhibitor specificities, the purified enzyme appeared to be a true AChE. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and isoelectric focusing of the purified AChE revealed three molecular forms. The isoelectric points were 7.3 for the major form and 6.3 and 7.1 for two minor forms. The major form of purified AChE showed molecular masses of 129 kDa for its native protein and 72 kDa for its subunits on SDS-PAGE. However, the purified AChE exhibited some distinctive characteristics including: (1) lack of affinity to the affinity ligand 3-(carboxyphenyl) ethyldimethyl ammonium, which has been used widely in purification of AChE from various insect species; and (2) 20-200-fold higher substrate-inhibition thresholds for ATC and AbetaMTC than AChE from other insect species. These biochemical properties may reflect structural differences of AChE purified from the greenbug compared with that from other insect species.     

抑制剂存在下不同种群烟粉虱乙酰胆碱酯酶残余活性频率分布及其与抗药性的关系

为了探讨烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci不同种群个体乙酰胆碱酯酶敏感性差异及其与抗药性的关系, 我们选用室内饲养的烟粉虱SUD S敏感品系和6个田间抗性种群, 采用酶标板酶动力学法测定了各品系 (种群）乙酰胆碱酯酶对抑制剂的敏感性反应以及抑制剂存在时各抗性种群个体乙酰胆碱酯酶残余活性频率分布。结果表明: 在抑制剂浓度为300 μmol/L时, 敏感品系乙酰胆碱酯酶的活性基本上被完全抑制, 可以明显地区分敏感品系与田间抗性种群。在抑制剂浓度为2 000 μmol/L时, 各抗性种群个体乙酰胆碱酯酶残余活性频率分布差异明显, 其中ZZ-R种群和FZ-R种群的乙酰胆碱酯酶残余活性频率分布相似, 大部分个体的乙酰胆碱酯酶残余活性分布在1.00~1.80 mOD/min之间; SM-R种群和ND-R种群的乙酰胆碱酯酶残余活性频率分布也相似, 大部分个体的乙酰胆碱酯酶残余活性分布在0.40~1.00 mOD/min之间; LY-R和NP-R种群大部分个体的乙酰胆碱酯酶残余活性分别分布在1.00~1.60 mOD/min和0.80~1.20 mOD/min之间。各抗性种群乙酰胆碱酯酶高残余活性 (大于1.00 mOD/min）个体频率与对敌敌畏的抗性水平之间具有明显相关性, 相关系数为0.86 (P<0.05）。考虑到乙酰胆碱酯酶对抑制剂作用不敏感是一些昆虫对有机磷和氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂抗性的重要机制之一, 建议可以将乙酰胆碱酯酶对敌敌畏的敏感性作为烟粉虱抗药性生化检测的一个参考指标。     

Mechanisms of organophosphate resistance in a field population of oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen)

The susceptibilities to three organophosphate (OP) insecticides (malathion, chlorpyrifos, and phoxim), responses to three metabolic synergists [triphenyl phosphate (TPP), piperonyl butoxide (PBO), and diethyl maleate (DEM)], activities of major detoxification enzymes [general esterases (ESTs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s)], and sensitivity of the target enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were compared between a laboratory-susceptible strain (LS) and a field-resistant population (FR) of the oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen). The FR was significantly resistant to malathion (57.5-fold), but marginally resistant to chlorpyrifos (5.4) and phoxim (2.9). The malathion resistance of the FR was significantly diminished by TPP (synergism ratio: 16.2) and DEM (3.3), but was unchanged by PBO. In contrast, none of these synergists significantly affected the toxicity of malathion in the LS. Biochemical studies indicated that EST and GST activities in the FR were 2.1- to 3.2-fold and 1.2- to 2.0-fold, respectively, higher than those in the LS, but there was no significant difference in P450 activity between the LS and FR. Furthermore, AChE from the FR showed 4.0-fold higher activity but was 3.2-, 2.2-, and 1.1-fold less sensitive to inhibition by malaoxon, chlorpyrifos-oxon, and phoxim, respectively, than that from the LS. All these results clearly indicated that the observed malathion resistance in the FR was conferred by multiple mechanisms, including increased detoxification by ESTs and GSTs, and increased activity and reduced sensitivity of AChE to OP inhibition.     

Immobilization of rat brain acetylcholinesterase on ZnS and poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid) modified Au electrode for detection of organophosphorus insecticides

A novel, highly sensitive amperometric biosensor for detection of organophosphorus (OP) compounds has been constructed, based on rat brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) immobilized onto nanocomposite of ZnS-nanoparticles (ZnSNPs) and poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid) electrodeposited on Au electrode. In the presence of acetylthiocholine chloride (ATCl) as a substrate, ZnSNPs promoted electron transfer reactions at a lower potential and catalyzed electrochemical oxidation of enzymatically formed thiocholine, thus increasing detection sensitivity. Under optimum conditions (phosphate buffer, pH 7.5 and 30°C), the inhibition of AChE by malathion and chlorpyrifos was proportional to their concentrations in the range, 0.1-50nM and 1.5-40nM, respectively. The biosensor determined malathion and chlorpyrifos in spiked tap water samples with a acceptable accuracy (95-100%). The enzyme electrode had long-storage stability (50% retention of initial activity within 2 months, when stored at 4°C).     

The involvement of acetylcholinesterase in resistance of the California red scale shape Aonidiella aurantii to organophosphorus pesticides

Laboratory toxicity bioassays using chlorpyrifos (Dursban) confirmed the notion that development of resistance is responsible for widespread failures to control the California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Mask.) by applying organophosphorus (OP) compounds in citrus groves in Israel. Higher Vmax values of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity (9–13 fold) were measured in resistant strains collected from the field as compared to a susceptible line. No differences were found with respect to Km values using acetylthiocholine iodide as a substrate, or degree of inhibition (expressed by IC₅₀ values) by the OP compounds chlorpyrifos-oxon and paraoxon and the carbamate pirimicarb. We suggest that resistance of the California red scale is caused by excess of AChE molecules able to bind and thus scavenge inhibitory OP compounds. This scavenging mechanism related to AChE may be similar in other insect species where elevated levels of detoxifying esterases were implicated in conferring OP resistance.     

B型烟粉虱田间种群对毒死蜱和敌敌畏抗性的生化机制

通过增效剂生物测定和生化分析,探讨了采自福建省的B型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci 6个田间种群对毒死蜱和敌敌畏抗性的生化机制。结果表明：与敏感品系SUD-S相比,6个田间种群对毒死蜱和敌敌畏分别具有54.53～78.43倍和6.23～11.25倍的抗性。TPP、PBO和DEM对毒死蜱的增效比分别为3.61～24.94倍、1.14～1.76倍和1.04倍,对敌敌畏的增效比分别为1.67～2.64倍、1.33～1.65倍和1.09倍,表明羧酸酯酶的解毒代谢在烟粉虱对毒死蜱的抗性中起着重要作用。烟粉虱抗性种群乙酰胆碱酯酶的K_m值是敏感品系的1.83～4.0倍,V _max值是敏感品系的0.34～0.62倍; 敏感品系乙酰胆碱酯酶的活性在底物浓度大于1.0 mmol/L时受抑制,抗性种群乙酰胆碱酯酶的活性在底物浓度大于16 mmol/L时受抑制;抗性种群乙酰胆碱酯酶对敌敌畏和毒死蜱的敏感度分别比敏感品系低119.92～161.33倍和10.11～14.24倍,表明烟粉虱田间抗性种群乙酰胆碱酯酶可能已发生了变构,由变构引起的乙酰胆碱酯酶不敏感是烟粉虱田间种群对毒死蜱和敌敌畏产生抗性的重要原因。结果提示,乙酰胆碱酯酶不敏感性和羧酸酯酶的解毒代谢在烟粉虱对毒死蜱的抗性中均起着重要作用,而乙酰胆碱酯酶不敏感性在对敌敌畏的抗性中起重要的作用,多功能氧化酶和谷胱甘肽S转移酶在烟粉虱对毒死蜱和敌敌畏抗性中所起的作用不大。     

Alterations of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis are correlated with resistance to the organophosphate insecticide fenitrothion

Alterations of the structure and activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) leading to resistance to organophosphate insecticides have been examined in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), an economic pest of great economic importance in the Asia-Pacific region. We used affinity chromatography to purify AChE isoenzymes from heads of insects from lines showing the phenotypes of resistance and sensitivity to insecticide treatments. The AChE enzyme from a strain selected for resistance to the insecticide fenitrothion shows substantially lower catalytic efficiency for various substrates and 124-, 373- and 5810-fold less sensitivity to inhibition by paraoxon, eserine and fenitroxon, respectively, compared to that of the fenitrothion susceptible line. Using peptide mass fingerprinting, we also show how specific changes in the structure of the AChE enzymes in these lines relate to the resistant and sensitive alleles of the AChE (ace) gene characterized previously in this species (described in Hsu, J.-C., Haymer, D.S., Wu, W.-J., Feng, H.-T., 2006. Mutations in the acetylcholinesterase gene of Bactrocera dorsalis associated with resistance to organophosphorus insecticides. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 36, 396-402). Polyclonal antibodies specific to the purified isoenzymes and real-time PCR were also used to show that both the amount of the isoenzyme present and the expression levels of the ace genes were not significantly different between the R and S lines, indicating that quantitative changes in gene expression were not significantly contributing to the resistance phenotype. Overall, our results support a direct causal relationship between the mutations previously identified in the ace gene of this species and qualitative alterations of the structure and function of the AChE enzyme as the basis for the resistance phenotype. Our results also provide a basis for further comparisons of insecticide resistance phenomena seen in closely related species, such as Bactrocera oleae, as well as in a wide range of more distantly related insect species.     

A novel, sensitive, reusable and low potential acetylcholinesterase biosensor for chlorpyrifos based on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/multiwalled carbon nanotubes gel

A novel, low potential and highly sensitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) biosensor was developed based on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/multiwalled carbon nanotube composite gel thiocholine sensor. Composite gel promoted electron transfer reaction at a lower potential (+50 mV) and catalyzed electrochemical oxidation of thiocholine with high sensitivity. AChE was immobilized in sol-gel matrix that provides a good support for enzyme without any inhibition effect from the ionic liquid. The amount of immobilized enzyme and incubation time with chlorpyrifos were optimized. Chlorpyrifos could be determined in the range of 10(-8)-10(-6)M with a detection limit of 4 nM. Fast and efficient enzyme reactivation was obtained at low obidoxime concentration (0.1mM). Moreover, the biosensor exhibited a good stability and reproducibility and could be use for multiple determinations of pesticide with no loss of the enzyme activity.     

Immobilization of rat brain acetylcholinesterase on porous gold-nanoparticle-CaCO₃ hybrid material modified Au electrode for detection of organophosphorous insecticides

An acetylcholinesterase (AChE) purified from rat brain was immobilized onto gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) assembled on the surface of porous calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) microsphere. The resulting AChE-AuNPs-CaCO₃ bioconjugate was mounted on the surface of Au electrode with the help of silica sol-gel matrix to prepare the working electrode. This electrode was connected to Ag/AgCl (3 M/saturated KCl) as standard and Pt wire as an auxiliary electrode through a potentiostat to construct an organophosphorus (OP) biosensor. The biosensor was based on inhibition of AChE by OP compounds/insecticides. The biosensor showed optimum response at pH 7.0, 30 °C, when polarized at +0.2 V. Two OP compounds, malathion and chlorpyrifos could be detected in the range of 0.1-100 nM and 0.1-70 nM, respectively at 2.0-3.0% inhibition level of AChE. The sensor was reactivated by immersing it in 0.1 mM 2-pyridine aldoxime for 10 min. The detection limit of the sensor was 0.1 nM for both malathion and chlorpyrifos. The biosensor exhibited good reusability (50 times without considerable loss) and storage stability (50% within 60 days, when stored at 4 °C).     

Determination of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides in spiked samples of tap water and fruit juices by a biosensor with photothermal detection.

The determination of organophosphate (paraoxon, chlorpyrifos, diazinon) and carbamate (carbaryl, carbofuran) pesticides in spiked drinking water and fruit juices was carried out using a photothermal biosensor. The biosensor consists of a cartridge containing immobilised enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) placed in a flow-injection analysis (FIA) manifold and a photothermal detector based on thermal lens spectrometry. With this approach, 0.2 ng/ml of paraoxon can be detected in less than 15 min. Limits of detection for other organophosphate (chlorpyrifos, diazinon) and carbamate (carbaryl, carbofuran) pesticides varied, depending on their antiacetylcholinesterase (AntiAChE) toxicity, from 1 ng/ml to 4 microg/ml. The biosensor was used for the direct detection of pesticides in spiked tap water and fruit juices without any pretreatment steps. In these cases, the LOD3sigma of 1.5, 2.8 and 4 ng/ml paraoxon in tap water, orange juice and apple juice were obtained, respectively.     

Acetylcholinesterase in the central nervous system and digestive gland of Achatina fulica Bowdich.

Cholinesterase (ChE) activity was measured in the central nervous system (CNS) and in the digestive gland of the pestiferous land snail Achatinafulica Bowdich, by the method of Huegra et al. (1952). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and benzoylcholinesterase (BeChE) activity was higher in the former than in the latter. The complete inhibition of the enzyme activity with 10(-2) M eserine indicates that the ChE examined is AChE. The Km values of the AChE from the digestive gland and the CNS were 3.1 x 10(-5) and 9.0 x 10(-5) (M), respectively. The enzyme is the most active at pH 8.2 and 37 degrees C up to 60 min.     

Toxicity assessment of insecticides commonly used in rice pest management to the fry of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, a food fish culturable in rice fields

Toxicity of four insecticides commonly used in rice pest management, chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, carbaryl and carbosulfan, to the fry of common carp was assessed through median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) and in vivo inhibition of the brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme at sublethal concentrations. The 96‐h LC₅₀ values for these four insecticides were determined to be 0.008, 26.11, 7.85 and 0.60 mg L^?1 respectively. Exposure of fish to a series of sublethal concentrations (0.5–5% LC₅₀) of each insecticide for 14 days resulted in concentration‐dependent inhibition in AChE activity in comparison with the controls. AChE activity was greatly inhibited in the fish exposed to sublethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos. Upon transfer to insecticide‐free water, AChE activities in fry exposed to 0.5 and 1% LC₅₀ concentrations of carbaryl and carbosulfan were restored to the control level within 7–21 days whereas the fish exposed to chlorpyrifos or dimethoate did not fully recover from the insecticide‐induced anticholinesterase action. Of the four insecticides tested, chlorpyrifos was the most toxic for the fry of common carp. Although dimethoate was least toxic for the fish under acute exposure, the restoration level of normal AChE activity was slower under chronic exposure in comparison with carbaryl and carbosulfan. Hence, the use of carbamates, especially carbaryl, to control insect pests of rice in rice‐cum‐carp culture systems is recommended when considering survival, restoration of the normal AChE activity and stamina of the cultured fish.     

Immunoassay of acetylcholinesterase

There is a twofold rationale for assaying acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (EC 3.1.1.7) immunologically, rather than by conventional activity-based methods: to measure the amount of enzyme protein in samples that may contain AChE of uncertain intrinsic activity; to bypass cumbersome procedures for determining the individual molecular forms of the enzyme. We have developed an immunodisplacement assay and a two-site immunoassay for AChE that are sensitive enough to measure the enzyme in samples of biological interest (assay thresholds of 10 and 0.1 ng, respectively). We have also used immunofluorescence with quantitative cell sorting as a means of analyzing AChE immunoreactivity in normal and abnormal human red blood cells. The introduction of form-specific immunoassays awaits the identification of suitably selective antibodies.     

混配杀虫剂对美洲大蠊初孵若虫乙酰胆碱酯酶的活体in vivo抑制

研究了美洲大蠊初孵若虫乙酰胆碱酯酶（AChE）的最佳反应条件：蛋白含量40—50μg,pH7．4,底物浓度0．5mmol／L,反应温度37℃,保温时间15分钟。动力学参数Km和Vmax分别为5．64×10-4mol／L和55．5nmol／（min·mgprotein）。分析了顺式、反式氯氰菊酯与辛硫磷、马拉硫磷或毒死蜱以1：10比例混配对AChE的活体抑制。结果表明混配均能增强对AChE的抑制,其中顺式优于反式,与生测结果一致。认为拟除虫菊酯和有机磷混配增效的重要原因之一是提高了对靶标酶——AChE的抑制。     

Acetylcholinesterase in the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus: characterization and developmental expression in larvae

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the echinoid Lytechinus variegatus has been characterized. Kinetic parameters V(max), K(m), K(ss), and b were 2594+/-1048 nmol ATCh hydrolyzed/min/mg tissue wet weight, 185+/-11 microM, 308+/-100 mM, and 0.2, respectively for the substrate ATCh and 17.8+/-6.87 nmol BTCh hydrolyzed/min/mg tissue wet weight, 654+/-424 microM, 36+/-31 mM, and 0.6, respectively for BTCh. Pharmacologic analyses were performed with four inhibitors of cholinesterases, physostigmine, BW284c51, ethopropazine, and iso-OMPA, and yielded IC(50) values of 106+/-4 nM, 718+/-118 nM, 2.57+/-0.6 mM, and >0.0300 M, respectively. Both kinetic and pharmacologic results confirmed the existence of AChE in larval L. variegatus. Dimeric and tetrameric globular forms (determined by velocity sedimentation on sucrose gradients) were present in L. variegatus larvae. Activity of AChE increased significantly as larvae progressed in development from embryos to eight-arm larvae. Acetylcholinesterase activity of F1 larvae derived from sea urchins collected from wild populations and of F1 larvae derived from sea urchins cultured in the laboratory and fed two different diets suggest that the nutritional and/or environmental history of the adult sea urchin affect the developmental progression of AChE activity in the F1 offspring.     

Expression of two types of acetylcholinesterase gene from the silkworm, Bombyx mori, in insect cells

Complementary DNAs encoding two types of acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） were isolated from the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The type 1 （Bmacel） and type 2 （Bmace2） ORFs are 2052 and 1917 bp in length, respectively. Both the complete ORFs of the Bmaces and C- terminal truncated forms were recombined into the Bacmid baculovirus vector under the control of the polyhedrin promoter and expressed in Trichoplusia ni （Tn-5B 1-4） cells. The resulting products exhibited ACHE activity and glycosylation of the expressed proteins. An inhibition assay indicated that the ace2-type enzyme was more sensitive than the acel-type enzyme to inhibition by eserine and paraoxon.     

Decapitation impacting effect of topically applied chlorpyrifos on acetylcholinesterase and general esterases in susceptible and resistant German cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

The effect of topically applied chlorpyrifos on acetylcholinesterase and other esterases in heads and decapitated bodies of CSMA and Crawford German cockroaches was examined with spectrophotometric enzyme assay and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The toxicity of chlorpyrifos was greatly reduced in decapitated CSMA male cockroaches with LD50 value 17.1-fold higher than that of normal CSMA cockroaches. Acetylcholinesterase activity from heads was significantly higher in the Crawford compared with the CSMA strain and did not change until 24 h after chlorpyrifos in vivo treatment in both strains. The p-nitrophenyl butyrate (NPB) esterase activities from both heads and decapitated bodies of the resistant Crawford strain were significantly greater than the susceptible CSMA strain. The p-NPB esterase activity was significantly inhibited by chlorpyrifos in vivo treatment, and total p-NPB esterase activity was significantly reduced in decapitated bodies compared with heads of both strains. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis of extracts solubilized with Triton X-100 from heads and decapitated bodies revealed five major esterase bands and an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) band with a high capability of hydrolyzing alpha-naphthyl butyrate and acetylthiocholine, respectively. In the heads of susceptible CSMA male cockroaches, the activity of mobile isozymes d1 and d2 was completely inhibited at 24 h after chlorpyrifos application, and isozyme e was partially inhibited. In contrast, isozymes c1 and c2 from the decapitated bodies of CSMA cockroaches were mostly affected at 24 h after the topical application of chlorpyrifos. The activities of acetylcholinesterase and esterase isozymes a and b from the decapitated body remained uninhibited in both strains. Inhibition of isozymes d1 and d2 seems to be more important in chlorpyrifos intoxication than acetylcholinesterase.     

棉铃虫AChE不同分子型对抑制剂的敏感度及其与抗药性的关系(英文)

在分离到的棉铃虫AChE五种不同的分子型中 ,2 .1s和 8.7sAChE抗性品系对毒扁豆碱的敏感度明显低于敏感品系 ,成虫头部I50 值分别相差 1 86.3和 84.8倍 ,幼虫I50 值分别相差 1 0 1 0 倍和 1 0 5 倍。幼虫 5.3sAChE对毒扁豆碱的敏感度抗性品系和敏感品系相差达 1 2 3倍 ,而成虫则没有差异。研究结果表明 2 .1s、5.3s和 8.7sAChE敏感度降低可能是造成棉铃虫对有机磷和氨基甲酸酯类杀虫药剂产生抗性的主要原因     

Toxicological and biochemical characterizations of malathion sensitivity in two field populations of Oxya chinensis （Orthoptera： Acridoidea）

We evaluate comparative toxicity of malathion in the two populations of the grasshopper Oxya chinensis, collected from Daixian and Fanshi of Shanxi province, China. General esterases and acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） from the two populations were characterized and compared. LD50 of the Daixian population （7.58 μg/g body weight） was 2.02-fold higher than that of the Fanshi population （3.75μg/g body weight）. General esterase-specific activities in the Daixian population were 1.91,130 and 1.85-fold higher than those in the Fanshi population, when α-NA, α-NB and β-NA were used as a substrate, respectively. Kinetic studies of general esterase showed that Vmax values of general esterases hydrolyzing α-NA,α-NB and β-NA in the Daixian population were 2.15-, 1.12-, and 1.47-fold, respectively, higher than those in the Fanshi population. The AChE activity of the Fanshi population was 1.54-fold higher than that of the Daixian population. Kinetic analysis of AChE showed that significant differences were presented between the two populations in the Km values; and the Vmax value in the Fanshi population was higher than that in the Daixian population. Inhibition studies of AChE indicated that AChE from the Daixian population was 2.56-, 2.80-, and 2.29-fold less sensitive to inhibition by paraoxon, chlorpyrifos-oxon, and demeton-S-methyl, respectively, than that from the Fanshi population. These biochemical characterizations of general esterases and AChE were consistent with malathion bioassay in the two populations. It is inferred that the reduced sensitivity of altered AChE and increased general esterase activities play an important role in the differences of insusceptibility of Oxya chinensis to malathion between the two populations.