Transposon-mediated insertional mutagenesis unmasks recessive insecticide resistance in the aphid <i>Myzus persicae</i>
Michela Panini, Olga Chiesa, Bartlomiej J. Troczka, Mark Mallott, Gian Carlo Manicardi, Stefano Cassanelli, Filippo Cominelli, Alexander Hayward, Emanuele Mazzoni, Chris Bass
Abstract
that carry a resistant allele of the essential voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene with the recessive M918T and L1014F resistance mutations, in combination with an allele lacking these mutations but carrying a Mutator-like element transposon insertion that disrupts the coding sequence of the VGSC. This results in the down-regulation of the dominant susceptible allele and monoallelic expression of the recessive resistant allele, rendering the clones resistant to the insecticide bifenthrin. These findings are a powerful example of how transposable elements can provide a source of evolutionary potential that can be revealed by environmental and genetic perturbation, with applied implications for the control of highly damaging insect pests.