Differential protein expression in the susceptible and resistant Myzus persicae (Sulzer) to imidacloprid

•A comparative proteomic was applied to isolate the proteins governing imidacloprid (IMI) resistance in Myzus persicae.•Protein expression changed in IMI-resistant M. persicae comparatively to susceptible strain.•Fourteen proteins were less abundant and 14 proteins were more abundant in IMI-resistant M. persicae.•The altered proteins are related to signal transduction, RNA/protein processing, transport processing, stress response, metabolisms, etc.

Myzus persicae, a serious economic agricultural pest, has developed resistance to imidacloprid (IMI), which was widely used to control this aphid worldwide. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of IMI resistance in M. persicae, we carried out a comparative proteomic analysis. Total proteins of the IMI-susceptible and resistant strains were extracted and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. More than 1300 protein spots were reproducibly detected, including 14 that were more abundant and 14 less abundant. Mass spectrometry analysis and database searching helped us to identify 25 differentially abundant proteins. The identified proteins were categorized into several functional groups including signal transduction, RNA processing, protein processing, transport processing, stress response, metabolisms, and cytoskeleton structure, etc. This study is the first analysis of differentially expressed proteins in IMI-susceptible and resistant M. Persicae, and gives new insights into the mechanisms of IMI resistance in M. persicae.

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