Reverse chemical ecology: Olfactory proteins from the giant panda and their interactions with putative pheromones and bamboo volatiles

Morphological Characteristics of Retinal Ganglion Cells in the Retinas of Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Vision plays a crucial role in the survival of animals, and the visual system has particularly selectively evolved in response to the visual environment, ecological niche, and species habitats in vertebrate species. To date, a horizontal streak of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) distribution pattern is observed across mammal species. Here, we report that the giant panda's vertically oriented visual streak, combined with current evidence of the animal's forward-placed eyes, ocular structure, and retinal neural topographic distribution patterns, presents the emergence of a well-adapted binocular visual system. Our results suggest that the giant panda may use a unique way to processing binocular visual information. Results of mathematical simulation are in favor of this hypothesis. The topographic distribution properties of RGCs reported here could be essential for understanding the visual adaptation and evolution of this living fossil.

Interplay of hormones and metabolite excretion with fern pattern prove saliva as a potent indicator of male reproductive status in Kangayam breed cattle

Kangayam cattle are one of the drought breeds in India with distinct attributes. Agricultural transformation has led to a decline in many pure-breed indigenous cattle, including the Kangayam breed. Hence, a study on the reproductive physiology of male Kangayam breed cattle is necessary to disentangle problems in the area of livestock improvement. In this study, we investigated the relationship between serum hormones and bio-constituents and ascertained the potential of saliva as an indicator of the reproductive status of Kangayam cattle (Bos indicus). The present study confirms that cholesterol was higher in intact males and lower in prepubertal and castrated males. Testosterone levels were also higher in intact males than in castrated or prepubertal males. Hence, it can be inferred that high cholesterol levels contribute to active derivatization of testosterone in intact males. In contrast, reduced cholesterol availability leads to decreased testosterone synthesis in castrated and prepubertal males. Furthermore, it is reasonable to speculate that testosterone could have influenced salivary fern patterns in intact males, and thus, fern-like crystallization in the saliva was apparent. The unique salivary compounds identified through GC-MS across various reproductive statuses of Kangayam males may advertise their physiological status to conspecifics. In addition, the presence of odorant-binding protein (OBP) in saliva further supports its role in olfactory communication. This study attested to a posssible interlink between gonadal status and serum biochemical profiles. The salivary fern pattern revealed in this study can be used as a predictive tool, and the presence of putative volatiles and OBP adds evidence to the role of saliva in chemical communication.

An odorant receptor mediates the avoidance of Plutella xylostella against parasitoid

BACKGROUND

Ecosystems are brimming with myriad compounds, including some at very low concentrations that are indispensable for insect survival and reproduction. Screening strategies for identifying active compounds are typically based on bioassay-guided approaches.

RESULTS

Here, we selected two candidate odorant receptors from a major pest of cruciferous plants-the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella-as targets to screen for active semiochemicals. One of these ORs, PxylOR16, exhibited a specific, sensitive response to heptanal, with both larvae and adult P. xylostella displaying heptanal avoidance behavior. Gene knockout studies based on CRISPR/Cas9 experimentally confirmed that PxylOR16 mediates this avoidance. Intriguingly, rather than being involved in P. xylostella-host plant interaction, we discovered that P. xylostella recognizes heptanal from the cuticular volatiles of the parasitoid wasp Cotesia vestalis, possibly to avoid parasitization.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study thus showcases how the deorphanization of odorant receptors can drive discoveries about their complex functions in mediating insect survival. We also demonstrate that the use of odorant receptors as a screening platform could be efficient in identifying new behavioral regulators for application in pest management.

Odorant-binding protein 19 in Monochamus alternatus involved in the recognition of a volatile strongly emitted from ovipositing host pines

Monochamus alternatus is the primary carrier of pine wood nematodes, which pose a serious threat to Pinus spp. in many countries. Newly emerging M. alternatus adults feed on heathy host pines, while matured adults transfer to stressed host pines for mating and oviposition. Several odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) of M. alternatus have been proved to aid in the complex process of host location. To clarify the corresponding relations between OBPs and pine volatiles, more OBPs need to be studied. In this research, MaltOBP19 showed a specific expression in the antennae and mouthparts of M. alternatus, and it was marked in 4 types of antenna sensilla by immunolocalization. Fluorescence binding assays demonstrated the high binding affinity of MaltOBP19 with camphene and myrcene in vitro. In Y-tube olfactory experiments, M. alternatus adults were attracted by camphene and RNAi of OBP19 via microinjection significantly decreased their attraction index. Myrcene induced phobotaxis, but RNAi had no significant effect on this behavior. Further, we found that ingesting dsOBP19 produced by a bacteria-expressed system with a newly constructed vector could lead to the knockdown of MaltOBP19. These results suggest that MaltOBP19 may play a role in the process of host conversion via the recognition of camphene, which has been identified to be strongly released in stressed host pines. In addition, it is proved that knockdown of OBP can be achieved by oral administration of bacteria-expressed double-stranded RNA in M. alternatus adults, providing a new perspective in the control of M. alternatus.

Mechanistic Insights into the Binding of Boar Salivary Pheromones and Putative Molecule with Receptor Proteins: A Comparative Computational Approach

Precise estrus detection in sows is pivotal in increasing the productivity within the pork industry. Sows in estrus exhibit exclusive behaviors when exposed to either a live boar or the steroid pheromones androstenone and androstenol. Recently, a study employing solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has identified a novel salivary molecule in boars, known as quinoline. This finding has intriguing implications as a synthetic mixture of androstenone, androstenol, and quinoline induces estrus behaviors in sows. Nevertheless, the precise pheromonal characteristics of quinoline remain elusive. In this study, we validate and compare the binding efficiency of androstenone, androstenol, and quinoline with porcine olfactory receptor proteins (odorant-binding protein [OBP], pheromaxein, salivary lipocalin [SAL], and Von Ebner's gland protein [VEGP]) using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. All protein-ligand complexes demonstrated stability, as evidenced by the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF), radius of gyration (Rg), solvent-accessible surface area (SASA), and hydrogen-bond (H-bond) plots. Furthermore, quinoline displayed higher binding efficiency with OBP, measured at -85.456 ± 8.268 kJ/mol, compared to androstenone and androstenol, as determined by molecular mechanics-Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) calculations. Conversely, quinoline exhibited a lower binding efficacy when interacting with SAL, pheromaxein, and VEGP compared to androstenone and androstenol. These findings, in part, suggest the binding possibility of quinoline with carrier proteins and warrant further investigation to support the role of quinoline in porcine chemical communication.

Chemical Ecology and Management of Dengue Vectors

Dengue, caused by the dengue virus, is the most widespread arboviral infectious disease of public health significance globally. This review explores the communicative function of olfactory cues that mediate host-seeking, egg-laying, plant-feeding, and mating behaviors in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two mosquito vectors that drive dengue virus transmission. Aedes aegypti has adapted to live in close association with humans, preferentially feeding on them and laying eggs in human-fabricated water containers and natural habitats. In contrast, Ae. albopictus is considered opportunistic in its feeding habits and tends to inhabit more vegetative areas. Additionally, the ability of both mosquito species to locate suitable host plants for sugars and find mates for reproduction contributes to their survival. Advances in chemical ecology, functional genomics, and behavioral analyses have improved our understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms and reveal novel and specific olfactory semiochemicals that these species use to locate and discriminate among resources in their environment. Physiological status; learning; and host- and habitat-associated factors, including microbial infection and abundance, shape olfactory responses of these vectors. Some of these semiochemicals can be integrated into the toolbox for dengue surveillance and control.

Host plant recognition by two odorant-binding proteins in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

BACKGROUND

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, the red palm weevil (RPW), is a key pest that attacks many economically important palm species and that has evolved a sensitive and specific olfactory system to seek palm hosts. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) not only play crucial roles in its olfactory perception process but are also important molecular targets for the development of new approaches for pest management.

RESULTS

Analysis of the tissue expression profiles of RferOBP8 and RferOBP11 revealed that these two Rhynchophorus ferrugineus odorant binding proteins (RferOBPs) exhibited high expression in the antennae and showed sexual dimorphism. We analyzed the volatiles of seven host plants by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and screened 13 potential ligands by molecular docking. The binding affinity of two recombinant OBPs to aggregation pheromones and 13 palm odorants was tested by fluorescence competitive binding assays. The results revealed that eight tested palm volatiles and ferrugineol have high binding affinities with RferOBP8 or RferOBP11. Behavioral trials showed that these eight odor compounds could elicit an attraction response in adult RPW. RNA interference analysis indicated that the reduction in the expression levels of the two RferOBPs led to a decrease in behavioral responses to these volatiles.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that RferOBP8 and RferOBP11 are involved in mediating the responses of RPW to palm volatiles and to aggregation pheromones and may play important roles in RPW host-seeking. This study also provides a theoretical foundation for the promising application of novel molecular targets in the development of new behavioral interference strategies for RPW management in the future. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Flexible Gaussian Accelerated Molecular Dynamics to Enhance Biological Sampling

Molecular dynamics simulations often struggle to obtain sufficient sampling to study complex molecular events due to high energy barriers separating the minima of interest. Multiple enhanced sampling techniques have been developed and improved over the years to tackle this issue. Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) is a recently developed enhanced sampling technique that works by adding a biasing potential, lifting the energy landscape up, and decreasing the height of its barriers. GaMD allows one to increase the sampling of events of interest without the need of a priori knowledge of the system or the relevant coordinates. All required acceleration parameters can be obtained from a previous search run. Upon its development, several improvements for the methodology have been proposed, among them selective GaMD in which the boosting potential is selectively applied to the region of interest. There are currently four selective GaMD methods that have shown promising results. However, all of these methods are constrained on the number, location, and scenarios in which this selective boosting potential can be applied to ligands, peptides, or protein-protein interactions. In this work, we showcase a GROMOS implementation of the GaMD methodology with a fully flexible selective GaMD approach that allows the user to define, in a straightforward way, multiple boosting potentials for as many regions as desired. We show and analyze the advantages of this flexible selective approach on two previously used test systems, the alanine dipeptide and the chignolin peptide, and extend these examples to study its applicability and potential to study conformational changes of glycans and glycosylated proteins.

Intestinal acetic acid regulates the synthesis of sex pheromones in captive giant pandas

As a typical solitary animal, adult giant pandas rely on chemical signals (sex pheromones) to transmit reproductive information during oestrous. Although researchers have confirmed that the gut microbiota is related to the emission and reception of sex pheromones, there is no clear correlation between the gut microbes and the synthesis of sex pheromone of giant pandas, that is, which gut microbes and microbial metabolites are participate in the synthesis of giant panda's sex pheromone. As a mirror of gut microbiota, fecal microbiota can reflect the composition of gut microbiota and its interaction with host to some extent. The purpose of this study is to explore how the gut microbes affect the synthesis of sex pheromones in captive giant pandas by combining analysis of the fecal microbiome and metabolomics. The results of correlation and microbial function analysis show that intestinal microorganisms such as Veillonellaceae and Lactobacillilaceae are associated with the synthesis of short chain fatty acid (acetic acid) and volatile ester metabolites, such as 1-butanol, 3-methyl, acetate, acetic acid, hexyl ester and 3-hexen-1-ol, acetate, (Z). In summary, based on this study, we believe that volatile metabolites such as fecal acetate participate in the process of mate preference of captive giant pandas and affect their expression of natural mating behavior. The possible mechanism is that the gut microbes can promote the synthesis of key chemical signaling substances in perianal glands through mediated intermediate fecal metabolites, thus affecting the normal information exchange between giant pandas individuals. The results of this study have greatly enriched our understanding of gut microbes regulating the synthesis of sex pheromones in giant pandas.

iORandLigandDB: A Website for Three-Dimensional Structure Prediction of Insect Odorant Receptors and Docking with Odorants

The use of insect-specific odorants to control the behavior of insects has always been a hot spot in research on "green" control strategies of insects. However, it is generally time-consuming and laborious to explore insect-specific odorants with traditional reverse chemical ecology methods. Here, an insect odorant receptor (OR) and ligand database website (iORandLigandDB) was developed for the specific exploration of insect-specific odorants by using deep learning algorithms. The website provides a range of specific odorants before molecular biology experiments as well as the properties of ORs in closely related insects. At present, the existing three-dimensional structures of ORs in insects and the docking data with related odorants can be retrieved from the database and further analyzed.

Ligand-binding properties of chemosensory protein 1 in Callosobruchus chinensis to mung bean volatiles

Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Fabaceae) is a worldwide pest that feeds exclusively on legumes, and is the most serious pest affecting mung beans. Usually, the insect olfactory system plays a predominant role in searching for host plants and egg-laying locations. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs), are mainly responsible for transporting specific odour molecules from the environment. In this study, we found that the CSP1 gene of adult C. chinensis displayed antennae-biased expression using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. The binding properties of 23 mung bean volatiles were then determined through several analyses of in vitro recombinant CSP1 protein, including fluorescence competitive binding assay, homology modelling, molecular docking, and site-directed mutagenesis. Fluorescence competitive binding assays showed that CchiCSP1 protein could bind to four mung bean volatiles and was most stable at pH 7.4. After site-directed mutation of three key amino acid bases (L39, V25, and Y35), their binding affinities to each ligand were significantly decreased or lost. This indicated that these three amino acid residues may be involved in the binding of CchiCSP1 to different ligands. We further used Y-tube behavioural bioassays to find that the four mung bean volatiles had a significant attraction or repulsion response in adult C. chinensis. The above findings confirm that the CchiCSP1 protein may be involved in the response of C. chinensis to mung bean volatiles and plays an important role in olfactory-related behaviours. The four active volatiles are expected to develop into new behavioural attractants or repellents in the future.

Chemosensory Protein 2 of Male Athetis lepigone Is Involved in the Perception of Sex Pheromones and Maize Volatiles

In moths, the interactions between chemosensory proteins (CSPs) and sex pheromones have yet to be comprehensively investigated. Here, we examined the function of AlepCSP2 in male Athetis lepigone based on protein expression, molecular docking, site-directed mutagenesis, fluorescence competitive binding analyses, and RNA interference (RNAi) experiments. We found that AlepCSP2 showed strong binding affinity for two sex pheromones and five maize volatiles and that binding was optimal under neutral conditions. Furthermore, we identified six amino acids as being key residues involved in the interaction between AlepCSP2 and multiple ligands. Further RNAi showed that siCSP2 males displayed consistently lower electroantennography responses to two sex pheromones and three maize volatiles at different dosages tested, and the mating rate also decreased significantly by 37.50%. These findings will contribute to characterizing the binding mechanisms of moth CSPs to sex pheromones and host volatiles and also identify unique targets for developing novel pest behavior disruptors.

Comparative Analysis of Olfactory Receptor Repertoires Sheds Light on the Diet Adaptation of the Bamboo-Eating Giant Panda Based on the Chromosome-Level Genome

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is the epitome of a flagship species for wildlife conservation and also an ideal model of adaptive evolution. As an obligate bamboo feeder, the giant panda relies on the olfaction for food recognition. The number of olfactory receptor (OR) genes and the rate of pseudogenes are the main factors affecting the olfactory ability of animals. In this study, we used the chromosome-level genome of the giant panda to identify OR genes and compared the genome sequences of OR genes with five other Ursidae species (spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), American black bear (Ursus americanus), brown bear (Ursus arctos), polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus)). The giant panda had 639 OR genes, including 408 functional genes, 94 partial OR genes and 137 pseudogenes. Among them, 222 OR genes were detected and distributed on 18 chromosomes, and chromosome 8 had the most OR genes. A total of 448, 617, 582, 521 and 792 OR genes were identified in the spectacled bear, American black bear, brown bear, polar bear and Asian black bear, respectively. Clustering analysis based on the OR protein sequences of the six species showed that the OR genes distributed in 69 families and 438 subfamilies based on sequence similarity, and the six mammals shared 72 OR gene subfamilies, while the giant panda had 31 unique OR gene subfamilies (containing 35 genes). Among the 35 genes, there are 10 genes clustered into 8 clusters with 10 known human OR genes (OR8J3, OR51I1, OR10AC1, OR1S2, OR1S1, OR51S1, OR4M1, OR4M2, OR51T1 and OR5W2). However, the kind of odor molecules can be recognized by the 10 known human OR genes separately, which needs further research. The phylogenetic tree showed that 345 (about 84.56%) functional OR genes were clustered as Class-II, while only 63 (about 15.44%) functional OR genes were clustered as Class-I, which required further and more in-depth research. The potential odor specificity of some giant panda OR genes was identified through the similarity to human protein sequences. Sequences similar to OR2B1, OR10G3, OR11H6 and OR11H7P were giant panda-specific lacking, which may be related to the transformation and specialization from carnivore to herbivore of the giant panda. Since our reference to flavoring agents comes from human research, the possible flavoring agents from giant panda-specific OR genes need further investigation. Moreover, the conserved motifs of OR genes were highly conserved in Ursidae species. This systematic study of OR genes in the giant panda will provide a solid foundation for further research on the olfactory function and variation of the giant panda.

Expression profile and functional characterization of odorant binding proteins in a forest pest, Dioryctria abietella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

In the forest ecosystem dominated by the Pinaceae plants, this boring pest Dioryctria abietella is subject to a variety of odorants derived from host and nonhost plants, in which olfactory-related proteins enriched in antennae are key behavioral modulators for the orientation of feeding and ovipositing hosts. Here, we addressed the odorant binding protein (OBP) gene family in D. abietella. Expression profiles revealed that the majority of OBPs were abundantly expressed in the antennae at a female-biased level. A male-antenna-biased DabiPBP1 was a strong candidate for detecting type I and type II pheromones of D. abitella female moths. Using a prokaryotic expression system combined with affinity chromatography, we harvested two antenna-dominant DabiOBPs. In the ligand-binding assays, the two DabiOBPs exhibited different odorant response spectra, as DabiOBP17 was tuned to most odorants with higher affinities compared to DabiOBP4. Of these, DabiOBP4 could strongly bind syringaldehyde and citral (dissociation constants (K_i) < 14 μM). A floral volatile, benzyl benzoate (K_i = 4.72 ± 0.20 μM), was the best ligand for DabiOBP17. Remarkably, several green leaf volatiles were found to strongly interact with DabiOBP17 (K_i < 8.5 μM), including Z3-hexenyl acetate, E2-hexenol, Z2-hexenal and E2-hexenal that may mediate a repellent response to D. abietella. Structural analyses of ligands revealed that the binding of the two DabiOBPs to odorants was associated with carbon-chain lengths and functional groups. Molecular simulations identified several key residues involved in the interactions of DabiOBPs and ligands, suggesting specific binding mechanisms. This study highlights olfactory roles of two antennal DabiOBPs in D. abietella, helping the identification of potentially behavioral compounds for the population control of this pest.

Artificial Olfactory Biohybrid System: An Evolving Sense of Smell

The olfactory system can detect and recognize tens of thousands of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at low concentrations in complex environments. Bioelectronic nose (B-EN), which mimics olfactory systems, is becoming an emerging sensing technology for identifying VOCs with sensitivity and specificity. B-ENs integrate electronic sensors with bioreceptors and pattern recognition technologies to enable medical diagnosis, public security, environmental monitoring, and food safety. However, there is currently no commercially available B-EN on the market. Apart from the high selectivity and sensitivity necessary for volatile organic compound analysis, commercial B-ENs must overcome issues impacting sensor operation and other problems associated with odor localization. The emergence of nanotechnology has provided a novel research concept for addressing these problems. In this work, the structure and operational mechanisms of biomimetic olfactory systems are discussed, with an emphasis on the development and immobilization of materials. Various biosensor applications and current developments are reviewed. Challenges and opportunities for fulfilling the potential of artificial olfactory biohybrid systems in fundamental and practical research are investigated in greater depth.

Omics and Remote Homology Integration to Decipher Protein Functionality

In the recent years, several "omics" technologies based on specific biomolecules (from DNA, RNA, proteins, or metabolites) have won growing importance in the scientific field. Despite each omics possess their own laboratorial protocols, they share a background of bioinformatic tools for data integration and analysis. A recent subset of bioinformatic tools, based on available templates or remote homology protocols, allow computational fast and high-accuracy prediction of protein structures. The quickly predict of actually unsolved protein structures, together with late omics findings allow a boost of scientific advances in multiple fields such as cancer, longevity, immunity, mitochondrial function, toxicology, drug design, biosensors, and recombinant protein engineering. In this chapter, we assessed methodological approaches for the integration of omics and remote homology inferences to decipher protein functionality, opening the door to the next era of biological knowledge.

Reverse chemical ecology indicates long-chain aldehydes as new potential semiochemicals for the African elephant Loxodonta africana

Chemical communication between sexes in the elephants has been well studied at the chemical and behavioural levels, but little is known about the proteins mediating the exchange of chemical signals. Two sex pheromones have been identified in Asian elephants: (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate and frontalin, and their effects on the elephants’ behaviour have been described in detail. The genomes of both the Asian (Elephas maximus) and the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) have been poorly annotated. In particular, the complete sequences of two odorant-binding proteins and a VEG protein are available for the African elephant, together with isoforms and other members of the same families, which however are incomplete or unreliable. In a previous study, we have expressed the OBP1 of both elephant species, and investigated their binding properties. We showed that OBP1 is tuned to the pheromone (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate and few structurally related linear esters, but also binds (E)-β-farnesene and farnesol with good affinity. In this work we have explored the characteristics of the second OBP of the African elephant (LafrOBP2). This protein, which was not found in the trunk wash, does not bind any of the above listed semiochemicals. Instead, it shows selected affinity to unsaturated linear aldehydes of 16 carbon atoms, specifically (Z)-9-hexadecenal, (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (10E,12Z)-hexadecadienal (bombykal). Fourteen and 18 carbon orthologues show only much reduced binding affinity. Some linear alcohols, fatty acids and esters also weakly bind this protein with dissociation constants about one order of magnitude higher.

Ligand Binding Properties of Odorant-Binding Protein OBP5 from Mus musculus

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are abundant soluble proteins secreted in the nasal mucus of a variety of species that are believed to be involved in the transport of odorants toward olfactory receptors. In this study, we report the functional characterization of mouse OBP5 (mOBP5). mOBP5 was recombinantly expressed as a hexahistidine-tagged protein in bacteria and purified using metal affinity chromatography. The oligomeric state and secondary structure composition of mOBP5 were investigated using gel filtration and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Fluorescent experiments revealed that mOBP5 interacts with the fluorescent probe N-phenyl naphthylamine (NPN) with micromolar affinity. Competitive binding experiments with 40 odorants indicated that mOBP5 binds a restricted number of odorants with good affinity. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) confirmed that mOBP5 binds these compounds with association constants in the low micromolar range. Finally, protein homology modeling and molecular docking analysis indicated the amino acid residues of mOBP5 that determine its binding properties.

Binding properties of odorant-binding protein 4 from bean bug Riptortus pedestris to soybean volatiles

The bean bug Riptortus pedestris is a notorious insect pest that can damage various crops, especially soybean, in East Asia. In insects, the olfactory system plays a crucial role in host finding and feeding behaviour in which the odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are believed to be involved in initial step in this system. In this study, we produced the R. pedestris adult antennae-expressed RpedOBP4 protein using a recombinant expression system in E. coli. Fluorescence competitive binding confirmed that RpedOBP4 has binding affinities to 7 of 20 soybean volatiles (ligands), and that a neutral condition is the best environment for it. The binding property of RpedOBP4 to these ligands was further revealed by integrating data from molecular docking, site-directed mutagenesis and ligand binding assays. This demonstrated that five amino acid residues (I30, L33, Y47, I57 and Y121) are involved in the binding process of RpedOBP4 to corresponding ligands. These findings will not only help us to more thoroughly explore the olfactory mechanism of R. pedestris during feeding on soybean, but also lead to the identification of key candidate targets for developing environmental and efficient behaviour inhibitors to prevent population expansion of R. pedestris in the future.

An odorant-binding protein in the elephant's trunk is finely tuned to sex pheromone (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate

Chemical communication in elephants has been well studied at the chemical and behavioural levels. Pheromones have been identified in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), including (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate and frontalin, and their specific effects on the sexual behaviour of elephants have been accurately documented. In contrast, our knowledge on the proteins mediating detection of pheromones in elephants remains poor and superficial, with only three annotated and reliable entries in sequence databases, two of them being odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), and the third a member of von Ebner's gland (VEG) proteins. Proteomic analysis of trunk wash extract from African elephant (Loxodonta africana) identified one of the OBPs (LafrOBP1) as the main component. We therefore expressed LafrOBP1 and its Asian elephant orthologue in yeast Pichia pastoris and found that both recombinant proteins, as well as the natural LafrOBP1 are tuned to (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, but have no affinity for frontalin. Both the natural and recombinant LafrOBP1 carry post-translational modifications such as O-glycosylation, phosphorylation and acetylation, but as these modifications affect only a very small amount of the protein, we cannot establish their potential effects on the ligand-binding properties of OBP1.

Progress in the Development of Detection Strategies Based on Olfactory and Gustatory Biomimetic Biosensors

The biomimetic olfactory and gustatory biosensing devices have broad applications in many fields, such as industry, security, and biomedicine. The development of these biosensors was inspired by the organization of biological olfactory and gustatory systems. In this review, we summarized the most recent advances in the development of detection strategies for chemical sensing based on olfactory and gustatory biomimetic biosensors. First, sensing mechanisms and principles of olfaction and gustation are briefly introduced. Then, different biomimetic sensing detection strategies are outlined based on different sensing devices functionalized with various molecular and cellular components originating from natural olfactory and gustatory systems. Thereafter, various biomimetic olfactory and gustatory biosensors are introduced in detail by classifying and summarizing the detection strategies based on different sensing devices. Finally, the future directions and challenges of biomimetic biosensing development are proposed and discussed.

Mammalian derived lipocalin and secretoglobin respiratory allergens strongly bind ligands with potentially immune modulating properties

Allergens from furry animals frequently cause sensitization and respiratory allergic diseases. Most relevant mammalian respiratory allergens belong either to the protein family of lipocalins or secretoglobins. Their mechanism of sensitization remains largely unresolved. Mammalian lipocalin and secretoglobin allergens are associated with a function in chemical communication that involves abundant secretion into the environment, high stability and the ability to transport small volatile compounds. These properties are likely to contribute concomitantly to their allergenic potential. In this study, we aim to further elucidate the physiological function of lipocalin and secretoglobin allergens and link it to their sensitizing capacity, by analyzing their ligand-binding characteristics. We produced eight major mammalian respiratory allergens from four pet species in E.coli and compared their ligand-binding affinities to forty-nine ligands of different chemical classes by using a fluorescence-quenching assay. Furthermore, we solved the crystal-structure of the major guinea pig allergen Cav p 1, a typical lipocalin. Recombinant lipocalin and secretoglobin allergens are of high thermal stability with melting temperatures ranging from 65 to 90°C and strongly bind ligands with dissociation constants in the low micromolar range, particularly fatty acids, fatty alcohols and the terpene alcohol farnesol, that are associated with potential semiochemical and/or immune-modulating functions. Through the systematic screening of respiratory mammalian lipocalin and secretoglobin allergens with a large panel of potential ligands, we observed that total amino acid composition, as well as cavity shape and volume direct affinities to ligands of different chemical classes. Therefore, we were able to categorize lipocalin allergens over their ligand-binding profile into three sub-groups of a lipocalin clade that is associated with functions in chemical communication, thus strengthening the function of major mammalian respiratory allergens as semiochemical carriers. The promiscuous binding capability of hydrophobic ligands from environmental sources warrants further investigation regarding their impact on a molecule's allergenicity.

Reverse chemical ecology guides the screening for Grapholita molesta pheromone synergists

BACKGROUND

Pheromone-based management is a leading nonpesticidal strategy among integrated pest management options. Improving the potency of pheromone products by adding synergists would be a practical way to popularize pheromone-based management as well as to reduce pesticide use.

RESULTS

Using reverse chemical ecology, synergists for Grapholita molesta sex pheromone were screened. Combined molecular docking and in vitro binding assay led to the determination of four potentially active odorants showing high affinity to G. molesta pheromone binding protein 2 (GmolPBP2). Thereafter, the high affinity between Codlemone and GmolPBP2 was further verified by exploration of GmolPBP2-Codlemone interactions. As the only sex pheromone synergist validated by both laboratory behavioral tests and field trapping, Codlemone was used to optimize commercial sex attractants currently used in G. molesta control. The recommended formulation [(Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate:(E)-8-dodecenyl acetate:Codlemone = 95:4:10] was found to trap about five to six times more G. molesta adults than the commercial sex attractant [(Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate:(E)-8-dodecenyl acetate: (Z)-8-dodecenol = 95:4:1].

CONCLUSION

Codlemone is an excellent pheromone synergist that can be potentially sensed by GmolPBP2, which can remarkably improve the potency of G. molesta sex attractants. It is believed that the introduction of reverse chemical ecology would increase the chance of discovering pheromone synergists, promoting the development of more efficacious pheromone products that can be used in controlling G. molesta and beyond. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Odorant-binding proteins of mammals

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) of vertebrates belong to the lipocalin superfamily and perform a dual function: solubilizing and ferrying volatile pheromones to the olfactory receptors, and complexing the same molecules in specialized glands and assisting their release into the environment. Within vertebrates, to date they have been reported only in mammals, apart from two studies on amphibians. Based on the small number of OBPs expressed in each species, on their sites of production outside the olfactory area and their presence in biological fluids known to be pheromone carriers, such as urine, saliva and sexual secretions, we conclude that OBPs of mammals are specifically dedicated to pheromonal communication. This assumption is further supported by the observation that some OBPs present in biological secretions are endowed with their own pheromonal activity, adding renewed interest to these proteins. Another novel piece of evidence is the recent discovery that glycosylation and phosphorylation can modulate the binding activity of these proteins, improving their affinity to pheromones and narrowing their specificity. A comparison with insects and other arthropods shows a completely different scenario. While mammalian OBPs are specifically tuned to pheromones, those of insects, which are completely different in sequence and structure, include carriers for general odorants in addition to those dedicated to pheromones. Additionally, whereas mammals adopted a single family of carrier proteins for chemical communication, insects and other arthropods are endowed with several families of semiochemical-binding proteins. Here, we review the literature on the structural and functional properties of vertebrate OBPs, summarize the most interesting new findings and suggest possible exciting future developments.

Reverse Chemical Ecology Suggests Putative Primate Pheromones

Pheromonal communication is widespread among living organisms, but in apes and particularly in humans there is currently no strong evidence for such phenomenon. Among primates, lemurs use pheromones to communicate within members of the same species, whereas in some monkeys such capabilities seem to be lost. Chemical communication in humans appears to be impaired by the lack or malfunctioning of biochemical tools and anatomical structures mediating detection of pheromones. Here, we report on a pheromone-carrier protein (SAL) adopting a "reverse chemical ecology" approach to get insights on the structures of potential pheromones in a representative species of lemurs (Microcebus murinus) known to use pheromones, Old-World monkeys (Cercocebus atys) for which chemical communication has been observed, and humans (Homo sapiens), where pheromones and chemical communication are still questioned. We have expressed the SAL orthologous proteins of these primate species, after reconstructing the gene encoding the human SAL, which is disrupted due to a single base mutation preventing its translation into RNA. Ligand-binding experiments with the recombinant SALs revealed macrocyclic ketones and lactones as the best ligands for all three proteins, suggesting cyclopentadecanone, pentadecanolide, and closely related compounds as the best candidates for potential pheromones. Such hypothesis agrees with the presence of a chemical very similar to hexadecanolide in the gland secretions of Mandrillus sphinx, a species closely related to C. atys. Our results indicate that the function of this carrier protein has not changed much during evolution from lemurs to humans, although its physiological role has been certainly impaired in humans.

Ligand-binding properties of odorant-binding protein 6 in Athetis lepigone to sex pheromones and maize volatiles

BACKGROUND

Athetis lepigone, a noctuid moth feeding on more than 30 different crops worldwide, has evolved a sophisticated, sensitive, and specific chemosensory system to detect and discriminate exogenous chemicals. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are the most important agent in insect chemosensory systems to be explored as an alternative target for environmentally friendly approaches to pest management.

RESULTS

To investigate the olfactory function of A. lepigone OBPs (AlepOBPs), AlepOBP6 was identified and expressed in Escherichia coli. The binding affinity of the recombinant OBP to 20 different ligands was then examined using a competitive binding approach. The results revealed that AlepOBP6 can bind to two sex pheromones and ten maize volatiles, and its conformation stability is pH dependent. We also carried out a structure-function study using different molecular approaches, including structure modeling, molecular docking, and a mutation functional assay to identify amino acid residues (M39, V68, W106, Q107, and Y114) involved in the binding of AlepOBP6 to both sex pheromones and maize volatiles in A. lepigone.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that AlepOBP6 is likely involved in mediating the responses of A. lepigone to sex pheromones and maize volatiles, which may play a pivotal function in mating, feeding, and oviposition behaviors. This study not only provides new insight into the binding mechanism of OBPs to sex pheromones and host volatiles in moths, but also contributes to the discovery of novel target candidates for developing efficient behavior disruptors to control A. lepigone in the future. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chemosensory Proteins (CSPs) in the Cotton Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera

Simple Summary

The insect chemosensory system is crucial in regulating insect behaviors. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a family of small, soluble proteins conventionally known to transport odorant molecules in insect chemosensory system. Besides chemosensation, CSPs have been reported to play important roles in development, nutrient metabolism, and insecticide resistance. Therefore, identification and characterization of previously unknown CSPs will be valuable for further investigation of this protein family. The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is among the most serious insect pests in various agricultural and horticultural crops. In this study, 27 CSP genes were identified from H. armigera genome and transcriptome sequences, and their expression patterns were further examined by using transcriptomic data obtained from different tissues and stages. The results demonstrate that H. armigera CSP genes are highly expressed in both chemosensory and non-chemosensory tissues. Moreover, a new recombinant expression method was developed that can significantly increase H. armigera CSP expression levels as soluble proteins in Escherichia coli. This study improves our understanding of insect CSPs and developed a new approach to highly express recombinant CSPs, which can be expanded to examine CSPs in other species for functional characterization.

Abstract

Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a family of small, soluble proteins that play a crucial role in transporting odorant and pheromone molecules in the insect chemosensory system. Recent studies reveal that they also function in development, nutrient metabolism and insecticide resistance. In-depth and systematic characterization of previously unknown CSPs will be valuable to investigate more detailed functionalities of this protein family. Here, we identified 27 CSP genes from the genome and transcriptome sequences of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). The expression patterns of these genes were studied by using transcriptomic data obtained from different tissues and stages. The results demonstrate that H. armigera CSP genes are not only highly expressed in chemosensory tissues, such as antennae, mouthparts, and tarsi, but also in the salivary glands, cuticle epidermis, and hind gut. HarmCSP6 and 22 were selected as candidate CSPs for expression in Escherichia coli and purification. A new method was developed that significantly increased the HarmCSP6 and 22 expression levels as soluble recombinant proteins for purification. This study advances our understanding of insect CSPs and provides a new approach to highly express recombinant CSPs in E. coli.

Interactions between reproductive biology and microbiomes in wild animal species

Many parts of the animal body harbor microbial communities, known as animal-associated microbiomes, that affect the regulation of physiological functions. Studies in human and animal models have demonstrated that the reproductive biology and such microbiomes also interact. However, this concept is poorly studied in wild animal species and little is known about the implications to fertility, parental/offspring health, and survival in natural habitats. The objective of this review is to (1) specify the interactions between animals' reproductive biology, including reproductive signaling, pregnancy, and offspring development, and their microbiomes, with an emphasis on wild species and (2) identify important research gaps as well as areas for further studies. While microbiomes present in the reproductive tract play the most direct role, other bodily microbiomes may also contribute to facilitating reproduction. In fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, endogenous processes related to the host physiology and behavior (visual and olfactory reproductive signals, copulation) can both influence and be influenced by the structure and function of microbial communities. In addition, exposures to maternal microbiomes in mammals (through vagina, skin, and milk) shape the offspring microbiomes, which, in turn, affects health later in life. Importantly, for all wild animal species, host-associated microbiomes are also influenced by environmental variations. There is still limited literature on wild animals compared to the large body of research on model species and humans. However, the few studies in wild species clearly highlight the necessity of increased research in rare and endangered animals to optimize conservation efforts in situ and ex situ. Thus, the link between microbiomes and reproduction is an emerging and critical component in wild animal conservation.

Reverse chemical ecology in a moth: machine learning on odorant receptors identifies new behaviorally active agonists

The concept of reverse chemical ecology (exploitation of molecular knowledge for chemical ecology) has recently emerged in conservation biology and human health. Here, we extend this concept to crop protection. Targeting odorant receptors from a crop pest insect, the noctuid moth Spodoptera littoralis, we demonstrate that reverse chemical ecology has the potential to accelerate the discovery of novel crop pest insect attractants and repellents. Using machine learning, we first predicted novel natural ligands for two odorant receptors, SlitOR24 and 25. Then, electrophysiological validation proved in silico predictions to be highly sensitive, as 93% and 67% of predicted agonists triggered a response in Drosophila olfactory neurons expressing SlitOR24 and SlitOR25, respectively, despite a lack of specificity. Last, when tested in Y-maze behavioral assays, the most active novel ligands of the receptors were attractive to caterpillars. This work provides a template for rational design of new eco-friendly semiochemicals to manage crop pest populations.

The Olfactory Chemosensation of Hematophagous Hemipteran Insects

As one of the most abundant insect orders on earth, most Hemipteran insects are phytophagous, with the few hematophagous exceptions falling into two families: Cimicidae, such as bed bugs, and Reduviidae, such as kissing bugs. Many of these blood-feeding hemipteran insects are known to be realistic or potential disease vectors, presenting both physical and psychological risks for public health. Considerable researches into the interactions between hemipteran insects such as kissing bugs and bed bugs and their human hosts have revealed important information that deepens our understanding of their chemical ecology and olfactory physiology. Sensory mechanisms in the peripheral olfactory system of both insects have now been characterized, with a particular emphasis on their olfactory sensory neurons and odorant receptors. This review summarizes the findings of recent studies of both kissing bugs (including Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma infestans) and bed bugs (Cimex lectularius), focusing on their chemical ecology and peripheral olfactory systems. Potential chemosensation-based applications for the management of these Hemipteran insect vectors are also discussed.

The Odorant-Binding Proteins of the Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae

Spider mites are one of the major agricultural pests, feeding on a large variety of plants. As a contribution to understanding chemical communication in these arthropods, we have characterized a recently discovered class of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) in Tetranychus urticae. As in other species of Chelicerata, the four OBPs of T. urticae contain six conserved cysteines paired in a pattern (C1-C6, C2-C3, C4-C5) differing from that of insect counterparts (C1-C3, C2-C5, C4-C6). Proteomic analysis uncovered a second family of OBPs, including twelve members that are likely to be unique to T. urticae. A three-dimensional model of TurtOBP1, built on the recent X-ray structure of Varroa destructor OBP1, shows protein folding different from that of insect OBPs, although with some common features. Ligand-binding experiments indicated some affinity to coniferyl aldehyde, but specific ligands may still need to be found among very large molecules, as suggested by the size of the binding pocket.

A new non-classical fold of varroa odorant-binding proteins reveals a wide open internal cavity

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), as they occur in insects, form a distinct class of proteins that apparently has no closely related representatives in other animals. However, ticks, mites, spiders and millipedes contain genes encoding proteins with sequence similarity to insect OBPs. In this work, we have explored the structure and function of such non-insect OBPs in the mite Varroa destructor, a major pest of honey bee. Varroa OBPs present six cysteines paired into three disulphide bridges, but with positions in the sequence and connections different from those of their insect counterparts. VdesOBP1 structure was determined in two closely related crystal forms and appears to be a monomer. Its structure assembles five α-helices linked by three disulphide bridges, one of them exhibiting a different connection as compared to their insect counterparts. Comparison with classical OBPs reveals that the second of the six α-helices is lacking in VdesOBP1. Ligand-binding experiments revealed molecules able to bind only specific OBPs with a moderate affinity, suggesting that either optimal ligands have still to be identified, or post-translational modifications present in the native proteins may be essential for modulating binding activity, or else these OBPs might represent a failed attempt in evolution and are not used by the mites.

Lipocalins in Arthropod Chemical Communication

Lipocalins represent one of the most successful superfamilies of proteins. Most of them are extracellular carriers for hydrophobic ligands across aqueous media, but other functions have been reported. They are present in most living organisms including bacteria. In animals they have been identified in mammals, molluscs, and arthropods; sequences have also been reported for plants. A subgroup of lipocalins, referred to as odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), mediate chemical communication in mammals by ferrying specific pheromones to the vomeronasal organ. So far, these proteins have not been reported as carriers of semiochemicals in other living organisms; instead chemical communication in arthropods is mediated by other protein families structurally unrelated to lipocalins. A search in the databases has revealed extensive duplication and differentiation of lipocalin genes in some species of insects, crustaceans, and chelicerates. Their large numbers, ranging from a handful to few dozens in the same species, their wide divergence, both within and between species, and their expression in chemosensory organs suggest that such expansion may have occurred under environmental pressure, thus supporting the hypothesis that lipocalins may be involved in chemical communication in arthropods.

The 40-Year Mystery of Insect Odorant-Binding Proteins

The survival of insects depends on their ability to detect molecules present in their environment. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) form a family of proteins involved in chemoreception. While OBPs were initially found in olfactory appendages, recently these proteins were discovered in other chemosensory and non-chemosensory organs. OBPs can bind, solubilize and transport hydrophobic stimuli to chemoreceptors across the aqueous sensilla lymph. In addition to this broadly accepted "transporter role", OBPs can also buffer sudden changes in odorant levels and are involved in hygro-reception. The physiological roles of OBPs expressed in other body tissues, such as mouthparts, pheromone glands, reproductive organs, digestive tract and venom glands, remain to be investigated. This review provides an updated panorama on the varied structural aspects, binding properties, tissue expression and functional roles of insect OBPs.

Monitoring aging of hen egg by integrated quantitative peptidomic procedures

Environmental conditions and timing of egg storage highly affect raw material quality. Aging and endogenous processing of constituent proteins can determine important changes in specific functions and technological properties of inner egg compartments. We here used integrated peptidomic procedures to identify peptide markers of egg freshness. At first, peptides extracted from egg white and yolk plasma taken from eggs stored for different times were subjected to a label-free untargeted quantitation procedure based on nanoLC-ESI-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS, which identified 836 and 1974 unique variable molecules, respectively. By applying stringent criteria for filtering data, 30 and 66 putative egg aging markers were selected for egg white and yolk plasma, respectively. Proposed molecules were then validated through a targeted label-free parallel reaction monitoring procedure based on nanoLC-ESI-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS, confirming quantitative trends for 19 and 25 peptides in egg white and yolk plasma, respectively, and generating a robust panel of egg storage markers. Quantitative results reflected physico-chemical phenomena occurring in egg compartments during storage and offered essential information for the development of novel control procedures to assess quality features of fresh/stored raw material.

Characterization of the binding ability of the odorant binding protein BminOBP9 of Bactrocera minax to citrus volatiles

BACKGROUND

Bactrocera minax, one of the most important citrus pests, oviposits exclusively on citrus fruit. In the insect olfactory system, odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) facilitate the initial recognition role of host odor molecules. The aim of this study was to characterize the functional OBPs of B. minax and identify specific volatile organic compounds in the Citrus genus as OBP targets.

RESULTS

BminOBP9 (BminGOBP99a), a closely related homolog of BdorGOBP99a, which reduces the egg-laying behavior of Bactrocera dorsalis through silencing technology, was cloned, expressed, and purified. The binding ability of BminOBP9 to 11 citrus volatiles was then examined using fluorescence competition binding assays (FCBA). The results demonstrated that BminOBP9 could bind to all tested citrus volatiles, as could BdorGOBP99a, ZcucGOBP99a, and ZtauGOBP99a. Interestingly, the binding ability of BminOBP9 was the strongest among the four, suggesting that BminOBP9 may have a function in the specific recognition of citrus volatiles. Furthermore, we aligned the above four proteins and found nine distinctive amino acid sites in BminOBP9. To identify the unique binding sites of BminOBP9, we produced the nine mutants using site-directed mutagenesis. Further FCBA showed that the binding ability of the nine mutants to citrus volatiles significantly reduced, and six of them (substitutes S24P, L36F, E53K, N68D, D112A, and S118R) had the weakest binding ability.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated that BminOBP9 was the specific protein involved in the perception of citrus host volatiles by B. minax. Moreover, BminOBP9 could prove efficient in screening the candidate odors for pest management. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Symbiotic bacteria mediate volatile chemical signal synthesis in a large solitary mammal species

Mammalian chemosignals—or scent marks—are characterized by astounding chemical diversity, reflecting both complex biochemical pathways that produce them and rich information exchange with conspecifics. The microbiome of scent glands was thought to play prominent role in the chemical signal synthesis, with diverse microbiota metabolizing glandular products to produce odorants that may be used as chemosignals. Here, we use gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and metagenomic shotgun sequencing to explore this phenomenon in the anogenital gland secretions (AGS) of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). We find that this gland contains a diverse community of fermentative bacteria with enzymes that support metabolic pathways (e.g., lipid degradation) for the productions of volatile odorants specialized for chemical communication. We found quantitative and qualitative differences in the microbiota between AGS and digestive tract, a finding which was mirrored by differences among chemical compounds that could be used for olfactory communication. Volatile chemical compounds were more diverse and abundant in AGS than fecal samples, and our evidence suggests that metabolic pathways have been specialized for the synthesis of chemosignals for communication. The panda’s microbiome is rich with genes coding for enzymes that participate in the fermentation pathways producing chemical compounds commonly deployed in mammalian chemosignals. These findings illuminate the poorly understood phenomena involved in the role of symbiotic bacteria in the production of chemosignals.

Biotechnological applications of mammalian odorant-binding proteins

The olfactory system of mammals allows the detection and discrimination of thousands of odors from the environment. In mammals, odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are considered responsible to carry odorant molecules across the aqueous nasal mucus to the olfactory receptors (ORs). The three-dimensional structure of these proteins presents eight antiparallel β-sheets and a short α-helical segment close to the C terminus, typical of the lipocalins family. The great ability of OBPs to bind differentiated ligand molecules has driven the research to understand the mechanisms underlying the OBP function in nature and the development of advanced biotechnological applications. This review describes the role of mammalian OBPs in the olfactory perception, highlighting the influence of several key parameters (amino acids, temperature, ionic strength, and pH) in the formation of the OBP/ligand complex. The information from the literature regarding OBP structure, affinity, the strength of binding, and stability inspiring the development of several applications herein detailed.

Responses of the Pheromone-Binding Protein of the Silk Moth Bombyx mori on a Graphene Biosensor Match Binding Constants in Solution

An electronic biosensor for odors was assembled by immobilizing the silk moth Bombyx mori pheromone binding protein (BmorPBP1) on a reduced graphene oxide surface of a field-effect transistor. At physiological pH, the sensor detects the B. mori pheromones, bombykol and bombykal, with good affinity and specificity. Among the other odorants tested, only eugenol elicited a strong signal, while terpenoids and other odorants (linalool, geraniol, isoamyl acetate, and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine) produced only very weak responses. Parallel binding assays were performed with the same protein and the same ligands, using the common fluorescence approach adopted for similar proteins. The results are in good agreement with the sensor’s responses: bombykol and bombykal, together with eugenol, proved to be strong ligands, while the other compounds showed only poor affinity. When tested at pH 4, the protein failed to bind bombykol both in solution and when immobilized on the sensor. This result further indicates that the BmorPBP1 retains its full activity when immobilized on a surface, including the conformational change observed in acidic conditions. The good agreement between fluorescence assays and sensor responses suggests that ligand-binding assays in solution can be used to screen mutants of a binding protein when selecting the best form to be immobilized on a biosensor.

Molecular and functional characterization of buffalo nasal epithelial odorant binding proteins and their structural insights by in silico and biochemical approaches

The olfactory system is capable of detecting and distinguishing thousands of environmental odorants that play a key role in reproduction, social behaviours including pheromones influenced classical events. Membrane secretary odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are soluble lipocalins, localized in the nasal membrane of mammals. They bind and carry odorants within the nasal epithelium to putative olfactory transmembrane receptors (ORs). OBP has not yet been exploited to develop a suitable technique to detect oestrus which is being reported as a difficult task in buffalo. In the present study, using molecular biology and protein engineering approaches, we have cloned six novel OBP isoforms from buffalo nasal epithelium odorant-binding proteins (bnOBPs). Furthermore, 3 D models were developed and molecular-docking, dynamics experiments were performed by in silico approaches. In particular, we found four residues (Phe104, Phe134, Phe69 and Asn118) in OBP1a, which contributed to favourable interactions towards two sex pheromones, specifically oleic acid and p-cresol. We expressed this protein in Escherichia coli from female buffalo urine and validated through fluorescence quenching studies to show similar strong binding affinities of OBP1a to oleic acid and p-cresol. By using structural data, the binding specificity was also verified by site-directed mutagenesis of the four residues followed by in vitro binding assays. Our results enable us to better understand the functions of different nasal epithelium OBP isoforms in buffaloes. They also lead to improved understanding of the interaction between olfactory proteins and odorants to develop highly selective biosensing devices for non-invasive detection of oestrus in buffaloes. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Vulpeculin: a novel and abundant lipocalin in the urine of the common brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula

Lipocalins are a family of secreted proteins. They are capable of binding small lipophilic compounds and have been extensively studied for their role in chemosignalling in rodent urine. Urine of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) contains a prominent glycoprotein of 20 kDa, expressed in both sexes. We have isolated this protein and determined its primary sequence by mass spectrometry, including the use of metabolic labelling to resolve the leucine/isoleucine isobaric ambiguity. The protein sequence was identified as a lipocalin, and phylogenetic analysis grouped the protein with other marsupial lipocalin sequences in a phylogenetic clade distinct from established cross-species lipocalin sub-families. The pattern of expression in possum urine and the similarity in sequence and structure to other lipocalins suggests this protein may have a role in brushtail possum chemosignalling.

Current and potential biotechnological applications of odorant-binding proteins

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are small soluble proteins whose biological function is believed to be facilitating olfaction by assisting the transport of volatile chemicals in both vertebrate and insect sensory organs, where they are secreted. Their capability to interact with a broad range of hydrophobic compounds combined with interesting features such as being small, stable, and easy to produce and modify, makes them suitable targets for applied research in various industrial segments, including textile, cosmetic, pesticide, and pharmaceutical, as well as for military, environmental, health, and security field applications. In addition to reviewing already established biotechnological applications of OBPs, this paper also discusses their potential use in prospecting of new technologies. The development of new products for insect population management is currently the most prevailing use for OBPs, followed by biosensor technology, an area that has recently seen a significant increase in studies evaluating their incorporation into sensing devices. Finally, less typical approaches include applications in anchorage systems and analytical tools. KEY POINTS: • Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) present desired characteristics for applied research. • OBPs are mainly used for developing new products for insect population control. • Incorporation of OBPs into chemosensory devices is a growing area of study. • Less conventional uses for OBPs include anchorage systems and analytical purposes. Graphical Abstract.

A reverse chemical ecology approach to explore wood natural durability

The natural durability of wood species, defined as their inherent resistance to wood-destroying agents, is a complex phenomenon depending on many biotic and abiotic factors. Besides the presence of recalcitrant polymers, the presence of compounds with antimicrobial properties is known to be important to explain wood durability. Based on the advancement in our understanding of fungal detoxification systems, a reverse chemical ecology approach was proposed to explore wood natural durability using fungal glutathione transferases. A set of six glutathione transferases from the white-rot Trametes versicolor were used as targets to test wood extracts from seventeen French Guiana neotropical species. Fluorescent thermal shift assays quantified interactions between fungal glutathione transferases and these extracts. From these data, a model combining this approach and wood density significantly predicts the wood natural durability of the species tested previously using long-term soil bed tests. Overall, our findings confirm that detoxification systems could be used to explore the chemical environment encountered by wood-decaying fungi and also wood natural durability.

Structure of odorant binding proteins and chemosensory proteins determined by X-ray crystallography

OBPs and CSPs are small soluble proteins used by organisms as shuttle to transport odorant molecules between air and the membrane-embedded receptors. Deciphering the interactions of these proteins with their ligands at a molecular level may give clue on the function and specificity of the olfactory chain. To reach this goal, protein crystallography is very helpful with more than hundred entries available in the protein data bank (PDB). In this chapter, we present the peculiarities of OBPs and CSPs concerning their crystallization and 3D structure determination by X-ray diffraction.

Site-directed mutagenesis of odorant-binding proteins

Modifying the affinity of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) to small ligands by replacement of specific residues in the binding pocket may lead to several technological applications. Thanks to their compact and stable structures, OBPs are currently regarded as the best candidates to be used in biosensing elements for odorants and volatiles detection. The wide and rich information on the structure of these proteins both in their apo-forms and in complexes with specific ligands provides guidelines to design reliable mutants to monitor specific targets. The same engineered proteins may also find applications in the slow release of pheromones and other chemicals in the environment, as well as in the fine purification of drugs, including the resolution of racemates. Apart from such useful applications, site-directed mutagenesis represents an interesting approach to dissect the specific interactions between small chemicals and amino acid residues in the binding pocket. These studies can lead to design of better ligands, such as pheromone analogues with desired physico-chemical characteristics. In this chapter we examine the different uses of mutagenesis applied to OBPs and report a couple of protocols that have been successful in our hands.

Ligand-binding assays with OBPs and CSPs

Assessing the ligand-binding properties of OBPs and CSPs is essential for understanding their physiological function. It also provides basic information when these proteins are used as biosensing elements for instrumental measurement of odors. Although different approaches have been applied in the past to evaluate the affinity of receptors and soluble binding proteins to their ligands, using a fluorescent reporter represents the method of choice for OBPs and CSPs. It offers the advantages of working at the equilibrium, being simple, fast and inexpensive, without requiring the use of radioactive tracers. However, as an indirect method, the fluorescence competitive binding approach presents drawbacks and sometimes requires an elaborate analysis to explain unexpected results. Here, after a brief survey of the different approaches to evaluate affinity constants, we focus on the fluorescence binding assay as applied to OBPs and CSPs, discussing situations that may require closer inspection of the results.

Bacterial expression and purification of vertebrate odorant-binding proteins

Vertebrate odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are small soluble proteins abundantly secreted in the olfactory mucus of many animal species, including humans. Vertebrate OBPs reversibly bind odorant molecules with micromolar range affinities. Although their physiological role is not clearly understood, OBPs are proposed to carry airborne odorants toward membrane olfactory receptors through the nasal mucus. Measurements of odorant-OBP interactions and structural studies require a large amount of pure OBPs devoid of ligands. The bacterial expression system is the first choice for expressing vertebrate OBPs used in our laboratory and others. This system generally produces OBPs in large amounts without major problems. In this chapter, we describe the milligram-scale production of recombinant pig OBP1 (pOBP1) in E. coli. The different steps of expression and purification are presented and discussed. Protocols for secondary structures investigation by circular dichroism and binding properties of the recombinant protein are also provided. More generally, these approaches can be used to produce and characterize any vertebrate OBPs for use in functional and structural studies.