Molecular insights on the function of <i>CYP380C12</i> in <i>Aphis gossypii</i> Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae): in silico and RNAi analyses

Aphis gossypii Glover is a serious pest that causes significant economic losses and is difficult to control due to the rapid development of resistance to neonicotinoids. Insect cytochrome P450s play an important role in detoxification of insecticides. In this study, we aimed to understand the function of CYP380C12 in A. gossypii. The CYP380C12 gene of A. gossypii was cloned and characterized, and its relative expression level differed among instars. The expression of CYP380C12 increased by 48.5% compared with the Water group under imidacloprid (IMI) stress for 48 h. Molecular docking predicted the binding free energy of CYP380C12 and IMI was -7.0 kcal/mol, indicating an excellent stability at the docked active site, which was verified by molecular dynamics simulations. Subsequently, silencing efficiency of CYP380C12 in the dsCYP380C12 treatment group reached 48.9%, 47.0%, and 40.0% at 24, 48, and 72 h, and the mortality of A. gossypii treated with IMI was 1.45- and 1.38-fold that of the Water and dsGFP control groups, respectively. Moreover, the reproductive period of aphids treated with dsCYP380C12 (9.67 ± 0.88) was significantly shorter than that of those sprayed with Water (13.67 ± 1.20). Taken together, these results indicated that silencing CYP380C12 not only increases sensitivity of A. gossypii to IMI but also shortens its reproductive period. Understanding the function of CYP380C12 in A. gossypii can provide new insights for developing innovative strategies to control A. gossypii.