Genome-wide identification, docking and expression analysis of ATP-binding cassette gene family of Parnara guttata, a major rice pest (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

Abstract

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family, is one of the largest and most ancient classes of transmembrane protein. Rice skipper, Parnara guttata, is a major rice pest distributed across China, Japan, and South Korea, and damages rice crop by rolling leaves into shelters, resulting in complicated pest control efforts. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification, docking and expression analysis of ABC transporters in P. guttata, and identified 47 ABC transporter genes. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into eight subfamilies (ABCA-H). Molecular docking revealed that transporters with the strongest binding affinities for Bt toxin Cry1Ac and chemical pesticides (cypermethrin, imidacloprid, malathion) predominantly belonged to the ABCC and ABCG subfamilies, suggesting these as potential pesticide targets. Transcriptomic data showed that all ABCD, ABCE, and ABCF genes were highly expressed in larval midguts, while other subfamilies exhibited partial high expression. These findings provide critical insights for toxicological studies and evolutionary analyses of ABC transporters in invertebrates.