Molecular mechanism of ATP‐binding cassette transporter‐mediated insecticide resistance

Abstract The growing problem of insecticide resistance poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity. Investigations into the resistance mechanisms mediated by ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters have garnered considerable attention within toxicological research. Several ABC transporter subfamilies have been implicated in conferring resistance to both organosynthetic insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis toxins. Research into insecticide resistance has broadened beyond gene expression analysis, including epigenetic modifications, cellular biology, and protein binding and transport dynamics. The advancement of RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technologies has accelerated the functional analysis of ABC transporter genes. Furthermore, the emergence of artificial intelligence, such as AlphaFold 3.0, offers unprecedented opportunities for predicting the three‐dimensional structures of these proteins, potentially elucidating the specific interactions between ABC transporters and insecticides. This review summarizes the recent advancements in the methodologies for functional analysis of ABC transporters, the molecular mechanisms underlying ABC transporter‐mediated insecticide resistance, and the regulatory pathways governing resistance genes in insects. It aims to provide a theoretical foundation for comprehensively understanding the mechanisms of insecticide resistance in insects, and also offering novel insights for the development of innovative and effective resistance management strategies.