Abstract
BACKGROUND: As global temperatures rise, organisms must adapt to heat stress to survive. Heat stress induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cells and increase mortality. Catalase (CAT), an antioxidant enzyme, mitigates this damage by breaking down hydrogen peroxide, a major ROS. RESULTS: In this study, we identified and characterized two catalase genes, TuCAT1 and TuCAT2, from the transcriptome of Tetranychus urticae, a pest species known for its resilient to environmental stress. Sequence analysis showed that both CAT proteins are highly conserved across arthropods, with TuCAT1 and TuCAT2 closely related to the CAT protein of Panonychus citri. Under heat stress, TuCAT1 gene expression was significantly upregulated, while TuCAT2 was down-regulated, indicating a complex regulatory response. RNA interference (RNAi) silencing of TuCAT1 enhanced superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity but decreased survival under heat stress. CONCLUSION: These findings deepen our understanding of catalase’s role in heat tolerance in T. urticae and guiding pest management strategies in the context of climate change. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-025-12215-3.