Insect Olfactory Proteins (From Gene Identification to Functional Characterization)

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Editorial

18 October 2019

Editorial: Insect Olfactory Proteins (From Gene Identification to Functional Characterization)

Peng He

,

Nicolas Durand

and

Shuang-Lin Dong

4,237 views

18 citations

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3

Shuang-Lin Dong

Nanjing Agricultural University

Guizhou University

Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines

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Insects can exploit chemical signals in the environment using their accurate olfactory system, thereby mediating many important behaviors, such as mate-finding, host location, and responding to alarm signals from conspecifics. At the molecular level, several types of proteins are generally considered to be involved in odorant molecule perception in olfactory sensillae, hair-like structures located on insect antennae. First, odorants may diffuse into the sensillar lymph via pores, where odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) recognize and bind them. Second, OBPs act as transporters to transfer odorants across the sensillar lymph to reach olfactory receptors, including odorant receptors (ORs) and ionotropic receptors (IRs), which are located on the dendrites of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). Finally, distinct odorant-degrading enzymes (ODEs) act as inactivators to degrade odorants and maintain the sensitivity of ORNs. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of peripheral odor detection remain largely unknown. Characterizing olfactory proteins will help to understand interactions between insects and their environment, as well as provide a scientific basis for the development of a new type of pest behavior blockers.

Insects can exploit chemical signals in the environment using their accurate olfactory system, thereby mediating many important behaviors, such as mate-finding, host location, and responding to alarm signals from conspecifics. At the molecular level, several types of proteins are generally considered to be involved in odorant molecule perception in olfactory sensillae, hair-like structures located on insect antennae. First, odorants may diffuse into the sensillar lymph via pores, where odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) recognize and bind them. Second, OBPs act as transporters to transfer odorants across the sensillar lymph to reach olfactory receptors, including odorant receptors (ORs) and ionotropic receptors (IRs), which are located on the dendrites of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). Finally, distinct odorant-degrading enzymes (ODEs) act as inactivators to degrade odorants and maintain the sensitivity of ORNs. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of peripheral odor detection remain largely unknown. Characterizing olfactory proteins will help to understand interactions between insects and their environment, as well as provide a scientific basis for the development of a new type of pest behavior blockers.

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Editors

Shuang-Lin Dong

Nanjing Agricultural University

Guizhou University

Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines

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Frontiers in Physiology

Invertebrate Physiology

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