TcCYP4C1 in combination with trehalose to cope with high CO2 stress in Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera)

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP), an important detoxifying enzyme in
insects, is involved in the metabolism and degradation of both exogenous
compounds and endogenous substances. To investigate the involvement of the
Tribolium castaneum TcCYP4C1 gene in detoxification metabolism
under high CO2 and the protective role of trehalose against hypoxic stress
in insects. In the present study, after successfully silencing
the TcCYP4C1 gene of T. castaneum by double-stranded RNA(dsRNA),
the larvae were exposed to 95% CO2. This exposure resulted in a
statistically significant increase in larval mortality and a significant
elevation in the activity of the carboxylesterase enzyme (CarE). However,
a decrease in mortality from 18.15% to 11.24% was observed when larvae
were fed trehalose after dsRNA injection. In addition, the gene expression
levels of the trehalose metabolism pathway-related genes TRE1-3, TRE1-4,
and TPS2 were significantly up-regulated after 95%
CO2 treatment. In summary, the TcCYP4C1 gene
emerges as a pivotal factor in the adaptive response of T.
castaneum to high CO2. Trehalose effectively mitigates the detrimental
effects resulting from the silencing of TcCYP4C1 and exposure to
high CO2 stress in T. castaneum. Our findings not only establish
a theoretical foundation for the development of novel pesticides tailored
for low-oxygen grain storage environments but also inspire innovative,
environmentally sustainable pest management strategies in the grain
storage sector.