Transcriptomics and proteomic-based study of the acaricidal mechanism of paeonol against Aleuroglyphus ovatus

Aleuroglyphus ovatus, a common mite harming stored grain, poses a threat to human health. Paeonol is the main component isolated from peony roots and exhibits various medicinal values. In our previous study, we found that paeonol shows strong acaricidal activity. In the present study, the acaricidal mechanism of paeonol against A. ovatus was uncovered through RNA-seq transcriptomics and TMT proteomics. According to the transcriptomics results, paeonol treatment noticeably up-/downregulated genes associated with “oxidoreductase activity” (peptidase activity, ATPase activity, and hydrolase activity). As shown by proteomic analysis, concordant changes were identified in proteins linked with hydrolase activity, serine-type peptidase activity, antioxidant activity, and oxidoreductase activity. Paeonol target proteins were FMO, ACAD8, GPX, CTSL, and PRSS1, as determined by transcriptomics-proteomics correlation analysis. We propose that paeonol may play an acaricidal role by interfering with enzyme activities in A. ovatus, especially serine-type peptidase, thereby causing an imbalance in amino acid ratios and eventually leading to the death of A. ovatus. However, the specific mechanism of action needs to be further studied. In addition, we verified the key enzymes at the transcriptional level.