Biophysical characterization of the Varroa destructor NaV1 sodium channel and its affinity for τ-fluvalinate insecticide

FASEB J. 2017 Jul;31(7):3066-3071. doi: 10.1096/fj.201601338R. Epub 2017 Mar 29.

Abstract

The decline of the western honeybee (Apis mellifera) has been reported to be due to parasitism by Varroa destructor mites and to colony collapse disorder in which these mites may be involved. In-hive chemicals such as τ-fluvalinate are being used to control Vdestructor populations. This approach may lead to the chronic exposure of bees to this liposoluble chemical, which tends to accumulate in hives. We cloned a variant of the V. destructor voltage-dependent sodium (VdNaV1) channel and studied its biophysical characteristics and sensitivity to τ-fluvalinate using the Xenopus oocyte expression system and the 2-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. We compared the affinity of VdNaV1 for τ-fluvalinate with the honeybee voltage-dependent sodium ortholog. Our results showed that the honeybee sodium channel is more sensitive to τ-fluvalinate than the V. destructor channel, suggesting that care must be taken when treating hives with this chemical.-Gosselin-Badaroudine, P., Chahine, M. Biophysical characterization of the Varroa destructor NaV1 sodium channel and its affinity for τ-fluvalinate insecticide.

Keywords: NaV1; Xenopus oocytes; voltage-gated sodium channels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Arthropod Proteins / genetics
  • Arthropod Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bees / parasitology
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Insecticides / chemistry
  • Insecticides / pharmacology*
  • Nitriles / chemistry
  • Nitriles / pharmacology*
  • Oocytes
  • Pharmacogenomic Variants
  • Pyrethrins / chemistry
  • Pyrethrins / pharmacology*
  • Sodium Channels / metabolism*
  • Varroidae / metabolism*
  • Xenopus

Substances

  • Arthropod Proteins
  • Insecticides
  • Nitriles
  • Pyrethrins
  • Sodium Channels
  • fluvalinate