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An odorant receptor from Anopheles gambiae that demonstrates enantioselectivity to the plant volatile, linalool.

ABSTRACT: Insects express chemical receptors within sensory neurons that are activated by specific cues in the environment, thereby influencing the acquisition of critical resources. A significant gap in our current understanding of insect chemical ecology is defining the molecular mechanisms that underlie sensitivity to plant-emitted volatiles. Linalool is a commonly-occurring monoterpene that has various effects on insect behavior, either acting as an attractant or a repellent, and existing in nature as one of two possible stereoisomers, (R)-(-)-linalool and (S)-(+)-linalool. In this study, we have used a cell-based functional assay to identify linalool and structurally-related compounds as ligands of Odorant receptor 29, a labellum-expressed receptor in the malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles gambiae (AgamOr29). While (R)-(-)-linalool activates AgamOr29, a mixture of the (R) and (S) stereoisomers activates the receptor with higher potency, implying enantiomeric selectivity. Orthologs of Or29 are present in the genomes of Anophelines within the Cellia subgenus. The conservation of this receptor across Anopheline lineages suggests that this ecologically important compound might serve as an attraction cue for nectar-seeking mosquitoes. Moreover, the characterization of a mosquito terpene receptor could serve as a foundation for future ligand-receptor studies of plant volatiles and for the discovery of compounds that can be integrated into push-pull vector control strategies.

SUBMITTER: Huff RM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6872167 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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An odorant receptor from Anopheles gambiae that demonstrates enantioselectivity to the plant volatile, linalool.

Huff Robert Mark RM Pitts R Jason RJ

PloS one 20191121 11

Insects express chemical receptors within sensory neurons that are activated by specific cues in the environment, thereby influencing the acquisition of critical resources. A significant gap in our current understanding of insect chemical ecology is defining the molecular mechanisms that underlie sensitivity to plant-emitted volatiles. Linalool is a commonly-occurring monoterpene that has various effects on insect behavior, either acting as an attractant or a repellent, and existing in nature as ...[more]

PMID: 31751420

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Project description:In order to find a blood host and to select appropriate oviposition sites female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes rely on olfactory cues which are sensed by olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) located within morphologically different sensilla hairs. While the sharp type trichoid sensilla are most abundant and intensely studied, the striking blunt type trichoid sensilla exist only in small numbers and their specific function is unknown. It has been suggested that they may play a role in the detection of chemical cues indicating oviposition sites. With the aim of identifying molecular elements in blunt type trichoid sensilla, which may be relevant for chemosensory function of this sensillum type, experiments were performed which include whole mount fluorescence in situ hybridization (WM-FISH) and fluorescence immunohistochemistry (WM-FIHC). The studies were concentrated on odorant binding proteins (AgOBPs) and odorant receptors (AgORs). WM-FISH approaches using a probe for the plus-C class AgOBP47 led to the labeling of cells, which resembled in number and antennal distribution pattern the blunt type trichoid sensilla. Moreover, WM-FIHC with an antiserum for AgOBP47 allowed to assign the AgOBP47-expressing cells to blunt type trichoid sensilla and to allocate the protein within the sensillum hair shafts. The result of double WM-FISH-experiments and combined WM-FIHC/FISH approaches indicated that the AgOBP47-expressing cells are co-localized with cells, which express AgOR11, AgOR13 and AgOR55. In addition, it turned out that the two receptor types AgOR13 and AgOR55 are co-expressed in the same cells. Together, the results indicate that the blunt type trichoid sensilla contain a characteristic binding protein, plus-C AgOBP47, in the sensillum lymph and two sensory neurons, one cell which express the odorant receptor AgOR11 and a second cell which express the receptor types AgOR13 and AgOR55. The expression of characteristic chemosensory elements in blunt type trichoid sensilla supports the notion that this sensillum type is involved in sensing distinct odorous compounds.

Dataset Information

An odorant receptor from Anopheles gambiae that demonstrates enantioselectivity to the plant volatile, linalool.

Publications

An odorant receptor from Anopheles gambiae that demonstrates enantioselectivity to the plant volatile, linalool.

Similar Datasets

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