CYP6A14 mediates detoxification and antioxidant response in Apis cerana cerana under heavy metal and insecticide stress.

Bees, as crucial pollinators, face increasing threats from environmental contaminants, including heavy metals and insecticides. This study investigated the protective role of CYP6A14 in Apis cerana cerana under stress from heavy metals (HgCl2 and CdCl2) and insecticides (cypermethrin and deltamethrin). Silencing CYP6A14 via RNA interference increased honeybee sensitivity to HgCl2, resulting in higher mortality, disrupted midgut morphology, and increased antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT, and CarE) content, and elevated oxidative stress markers (8-OHdG and MDA). Under HgCl2, CYP6A14 knockdown also led to significantly reduced expression of immune-related genes (abaecin, defensin1, and Toll). In vitro assays confirmed the metabolic potential of recombinant CYP6A14 in degrading cypermethrin and deltamethrin. Heterologous expression in E. coli further revealed that these insecticides disrupted core cellular processes, including energy metabolism and nucleotide homeostasis. Notably, CYP6A14 potentially appeared to enhance tolerance by alleviating metabolic stress caused by insecticides. These findings demonstrated that CYP6A14 helps alleviate oxidative stress and immune impairment caused by heavy metals and insecticides. This study provided new insights into detoxification mechanisms in honeybees and a basis for supporting pollinator health in contaminated environments.