腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运蛋白(ATP-binding cassette transporter),简称ABC转运蛋白(ABC transporter),是继细胞色素P450单加氧酶、羧酸酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶之后又一类参与解毒作用的重要蛋白家族,因其在杀虫剂解毒等方面起着非常重要的作用,近年来逐渐受到广泛关注。ABC转运蛋白是一大类跨膜蛋白,其核心结构通常由4个结构域组成,包括2个高度疏水的跨膜结构域(transmembrane domains,TMD)和2个核苷酸结合域(nucleotide binding domains,NBD)。根据序列相似性和保守结构域,可以把ABC转运蛋白家族分为8个亚家族,每个亚家族的成员数及功能不同。这类蛋白在各种生物体内均有分布,其主要功能包括转运物质、信号传导、细胞表面受体及参与细胞内DNA修复,转录及调节基因的表达过程等。此外,近年来的研究表明,ABC转运蛋白的突变或过表达不仅与节肢动物对化学农药的抗药性密切相关,而且在抗Bt毒素方面也起着非常重要的作用,对转Bt作物造成严重威胁。本文综述了节肢动物ABC转运蛋白的结构,ATP水解介导的作用机制,亚家族的分类、结构及生理功能,以及由ABC转运蛋白介导的抗药性研究进展,旨在深入了解ABC转运蛋白的研究现状及其在节肢动物抗药性方面的作用,为阐明节肢动物抗药性机制提供新的理论依据,对改进农业害虫的抗性监测和治理策略也具有一定的指导意义。
ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC transporters) are a recently documented family of detoxification-involved enzymes following cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and carboxylesterases (COEs). Over the last few years, these enzymes have been getting broad recognition and receiving extensive attention because of their important functions in the detoxification of insecticides. The ABC transporter is one of the major transmembrane protein families, which comprises four core domains with two highly conserved domains or nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) and two highly hydrophobic transmembrane domains (TMDs). In arthropods, the ABC transporter gene family can be divided into eight subfamilies (ABCA-ABCH), which vary in the number of members and their functions, based on the similarity of amino acid sequences and the conserved domains. These proteins are distributed in all living organisms on earth, and exhibit many vital roles including substrate transporters, signal transduction, cell-surface receptor, and special roles in DNA repair, translation and regulation of gene expression. In addition, recent advances in this area have shown that the mutation and/or overexpression of ABC transporters in arthropods are associated with the resistance of both pesticides and Bt toxins. In fact, they may potentially threaten the sustainability of Bt crops. This article presents an overview on the molecular structure and ATP-driven functions of the ABC transporters, and also the classification, molecular structure and physiological functions of the ABC-transporter subfamilies. We also described the research progress made on insecticide resistance mechanisms mediated by the ABC transporters in hoping to provide some basis for improving monitoring and management strategies of the insecticides used for pest control in agroecosystems.