Selection for resistance to methoxyfenozide and 20-hydroxyecdysone in cells of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua

In this report with an ecdysteroid-responsive cell line of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Se4) selection for resistance against methoxyfenozide and the insect moulting hormone (20-hydroxyecdysone, 20E) was carried out to analyze the resulting resistant cells in order to elucidate possible mechanisms of resistance towards these compounds. From these cultures, five methoxyfenozide- and four 20E-resistant subclones were selected starting from 0.1 nM methoxyfenozide up to 100 microM and from 10 nM 20E up to 100 microM, respectively. To date, the selected cells kept their loss of susceptibility for 100 microM. Here we evaluated two processes known to be important in insecticide resistance, namely metabolism and pharmacokinetics, in the selected methoxyfenozide- and 20E-resistant subclones. Synergism experiments with piperonyl butoxide, S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate, and diethyl maleate, which are respective inhibitors of monooxygenases, esterases, and gluthation-S-transferases, did not affect the level of the resistance. To check the possible existence of active transport in the resistant cells, we used ouabain, an inhibitor of active membrane transport. In parallel, the absorption profile was studied in resistant and susceptible cells with use of 14C-methoxyfenozide. Interestingly, resistant subclones showed cross-resistance towards methoxyfenozide and 20E. The resistance was irreversible even after the compounds were removed from the medium.     

Development of a methoxyfenozide-responsive gene switch for applications in plants

The ecdysone receptor (EcR) has been used to develop gene switches for conditional regulation of transgene expression in plants and humans. All EcR-based gene switches developed to date for use in plants are monopartate and require micromolar concentrations of ligand for activation of the transgene; this has limited the use of these gene switches. We have developed a Choristoneura fumiferana ecdysone receptor (CfEcR)-based two-hybrid gene switch that works through the formation of a functional heterodimer between EcR and the retinoid X receptor (RXR) upon application of the chemical ligand methoxyfenozide. Methoxyfenozide is already registered for field use with an excellent safety profile, and it has potential as a gene switch ligand for applications in the field. The receptor constructs were prepared by fusing DEF domains (hinge region plus ligand-binding domain) of CfEcR to the GAL4 DNA-binding domain and EF domains (ligand-binding domain) of ultraspiracle from Choristoneura fumiferana (CfUSP) or RXR from Locusta migratoria (LmRXR), Mus musculus (MmRXR) or Homo sapiens (HsRXR) to the VP16 activation domain. These receptor constructs were tested for their ability to induce expression of the luciferase gene placed under the control of 5x GAL4 response elements and -46 35S minimal promoter in tobacco, corn and soybean protoplasts and in transgenic Arabidopsis and tobacco plants. By adopting the two-hybrid format, the sensitivity of the CfEcR gene switch has been improved from micromolar to nanomolar concentrations of methoxyfenozide. The sensitivity of the CfEcR + LmRXR two-hybrid switch was 25 to 625 times greater than the monopartate gene switch, depending on the plant species tested.