Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have vital functions in processes of neurotransmission that underpin key behaviors. These pentameric ligand-gated ion channels have been used as targets for insecticides that constitutively activate them, causing the death of insect pests. In examining a knockout of the Dα1 nAChR subunit gene, our study linked this one subunit with multiple traits. We were able to confirm previous work that had identified Dα1 as a target of the neonicotinoid class of insecticides. Further, we uncovered roles for the gene in influencing mating behavior and patterns of sleep. The knockout mutant was also observed to have a significant reduction in longevity. This study highlighted the severe fitness costs that appear to be associated with the loss of function of this gene in natural populations in the absence of insecticides targeting the Dα1 subunit. Such a fitness cost could explain why target site resistances to neonicotinoids in pest insect populations have been associated specific amino acid replacement mutations in nAChR subunits, rather than loss of function. That mutant phenotypes were observed for the two behaviors examined indicates that the functions of Dα1, and other nAChR subunits, need to be explored more broadly. It also remains to be established whether these phenotypes were due to loss of the Dα1 receptor and/or to compensatory changes in the expression levels of other nAChR subunits.

烟碱乙酰胆碱受体（nAChRs）在神经传递过程中具有关键功能的重要功能。这些五聚体配体门控离子通道已被用作组成性激活它们的杀虫剂的靶标，从而导致害虫死亡。在检查Dα1nAChR亚基基因的基因敲除中，我们的研究将这一亚基与多种性状联系起来。我们能够确认将Dα1确定为新烟碱类杀虫剂目标的工作。此外，我们发现了该基因在影响交配行为和睡眠方式中的作用。还观察到敲除突变体的寿命显着降低。这项研究强调了在缺乏针对Dα1亚基的杀虫剂的情况下，天然种群中该基因功能丧失与之相关的严重适应成本。这样的适应成本可以解释为什么害虫昆虫种群中对新烟碱类药物的靶点抗性与nAChR亚基中的特定氨基酸替代突变相关，而不是功能丧失。观察到的两种行为的突变表型表明，Dα1和其他nAChR亚基的功能，需要更广泛地探索。这些表型是否是由于Dα1受体的丢失和/或其他nAChR亚基表达水平的代偿性变化所致，还有待确定。这样的适应成本可以解释为什么害虫昆虫种群中对新烟碱类药物的靶点抗性与nAChR亚基中的特定氨基酸替代突变相关，而不是功能丧失。观察到的两种行为的突变表型表明，Dα1和其他nAChR亚基的功能，需要更广泛地探索。这些表型是否是由于Dα1受体的丢失和/或其他nAChR亚基表达水平的代偿性变化所致，还有待确定。这样的适应成本可以解释为什么害虫昆虫种群中针对新烟碱的靶位点抗性已经与nAChR亚基中的特定氨基酸替代突变相关，而不是功能丧失。观察到的两种行为的突变表型表明，Dα1和其他nAChR亚基的功能，需要更广泛地探索。这些表型是否是由于Dα1受体的丢失和/或其他nAChR亚基表达水平的代偿性变化所致，还有待确定。需要更广泛地探索。这些表型是否是由于Dα1受体的丢失和/或其他nAChR亚基表达水平的代偿性变化所致，还有待确定。需要更广泛地探索。这些表型是否是由于Dα1受体的丢失和/或其他nAChR亚基表达水平的代偿性变化所致，还有待确定。