Molecular analysis of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase in the bed bug, Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Cytochrome P450s are involved in detoxifying insecticides and plant toxins and biosynthesizing endogenous compounds. Electrons needed for these processes are transferred from NADPH to cytochrome P450 by a cytochrome P450 partner enzyme, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR). Using PCR-strategy, we cloned the full length of CPR cDNA from the bed bug, Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). Double strand RNA (dsRNA) mediated knock-down in the expression of CPR significantly enhanced the sensitivity to deltamethrin in a deltamethrin resistant population from the Cincinnati area (CIN-1), suggesting P450-mediated metabolic detoxification is one of mechanisms responsible for the resistance observed in this population. The developmental and tissue specific expression of the bed bug CPR was also examined.