Mandelonitrile produced by commensal bacteria protects the Colorado potato beetle against predation.

ABSTRACT: Larvae and adults of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), a major pest of potato crops, display conspicuous coloration to advertise their toxicity to predators. However, the identity of the toxic compounds remains unclear. Here, we show that larvae and adults release toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) from the degradation of mandelonitrile and other cyano-compounds, which are produced by commensal bacteria. We isolate the bacterium Proteus vulgaris Ld01 from the insect's gut, and show that it produces HCN and a mandelonitrile-producing cyanoglucoside, amygdalin. Knockout of a gene (hcnB) encoding putative hydrogen cyanide synthase impairs HCN production in P. vulgaris Ld01. Antibiotic treatment of larvae, to eliminate their commensal bacteria, leads to a substantial reduction

SUBMITTER: Kang WN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11582604 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature