JNK-ERK Synergistic Regulation of P450 Gene Expression Confers Nitenpyram Resistance in <i>Nilaparvata lugens</i> (Stål)

Cascading regulation of signaling pathways plays a crucial role in insect growth, development, and adaptation. However, how insects employ signaling cascades to regulate detoxification gene expression and enhance resistance is not well understood. In the current study, we investigated the MAPK signaling pathway in mediating nitenpyram resistance in <i>Nilaparvata lugens</i>. qRT-PCR and western-blot analyses revealed that both transcription and protein levels of NlJNK and NlERK were upregulated in the nitenpyram resistant strain, and these changes can be induced by exposure to nitenpyram. Moreover, the expression of P450 genes including <i>NlCYP6ER1</i>, <i>NlCYP302A1</i>, and <i>NlCYP6AY1</i>, which were closely associated with nitenpyram resistance, was significantly decreased following the silencing of <i>NlJNK</i> and <i>NlERK</i> or inhibitor treatments. Further studies showed that <i>NlERK</i>-<i>NlJNK</i> comediated transcription factors <i>NlCREB</i> and <i>NlAP-1</i> to regulate P450 gene expression. These findings highlight the critical role of the MAPK pathway in <i>N. lugens</i> resistance and offer the potential targets for the insecticide resistance management.