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Dutta TK, Akhil VS, Kundu A, Dash M, Phani V, Sirohi A, Somvanshi VS. Induced knockdown of Mg-odr-1 and Mg-odr-3 perturbed the host seeking behavior of Meloidogyne graminicola in rice. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26384. [PMID: 38420492 PMCID: PMC10900406 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola is one of the most destructive plant parasites in upland as well as direct seeded rice. As an integral part of nematode biology, host finding behavior involves perceiving and responding to different chemical cues originating from the rhizosphere. A sustainable management tactic may include retardation of nematode chemoreception that would impair them to detect and discriminate the host stimuli. Deciphering the molecular basis of nematode chemoreception is vital to identify chokepoints for chemical or genetic interventions. However, compared to the well-characterized chemoreception mechanism in model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, plant nematode chemoreception is yet underexplored. Herein, the full-length cDNA sequences of two chemotaxis-related genes (Mg-odr-1 and Mg-odr-3) were cloned from M. graminicola. Both the genes were markedly upregulated in the early developmental stages of M. graminicola suggesting their involvement in host finding processes. RNAi-induced independent knockdown of Mg-odr-1 and Mg-odr-3 caused behavioral aberration in second-stage juveniles of M. graminicola which in turn perturbed the nematodes' host finding ability and parasitic success inside rice roots. Additionally, nematodes' chemotactic response to different host root exudates, volatile and nonvolatile compounds was affected. Our results demonstrating the role of specific chemosensory genes in modulating M. graminicola host seeking behavior can enrich the existing knowledge of plant nematode chemoreception mechanism, and these genes can be targeted for novel nematicide development or in planta RNAi screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar K. Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Voodikala S. Akhil
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Artha Kundu
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Manoranjan Dash
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Victor Phani
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Majhian Campus), Balurghat, 733133, India
| | - Anil Sirohi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Vishal S. Somvanshi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
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2
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Cassau S, Krieger J. Evidence for a role of SNMP2 and antennal support cells in sensillum lymph clearance processes of moth pheromone-responsive sensilla. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 164:104046. [PMID: 38043913 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
In insect antenna, following the activation of olfactory sensory neurons, odorant molecules are inactivated by enzymes in the sensillum lymph. How the inactivation products are cleared from the sensillum lymph is presently unknown. Here we studied the role of support cells (SCs) and the so-called sensory neuron membrane protein 2 (SNMP2), a member of the CD36 family of lipid transporters abundantly expressed in SCs, in sensillum lymph clearance processes in the moths Heliothis virescens and Bombyx mori. In these species, the sex pheromone components are inactivated to long-chain fatty acids. To approach a role of SNMP2 in the removal of such inactivation products, we analyzed the uptake of a fluorescent long-chain fatty acid analog into a newly generated HvirSNMP2-expressing cell line. We found an increased uptake of the analog into SNMP2-cells compared to control cells, which could be blocked by the CD36 protein inhibitor, SSO. Furthermore, analyses of sensilla from antenna treated with the fatty acid analog indicated that SNMP2-expressing SCs are able to take up fatty acids from the sensillum lymph. In addition, sensilla from SSO-pretreated antenna of B. mori showed reduced removal of the fluorescent analog from the sensillum lymph. Finally, we revealed that SSO pretreatment of male silkmoth antenna significantly prolonged the duration of the female pheromone-induced wing-fluttering behavior, possibly as a result of impaired lymph clearance processes. Together our findings in H. virescens and B. mori support a pivotal role of olfactory SCs in sensillum lymph maintenance processes and suggest an integral role of SNMP2 in the removal of lipophilic "waste products" such as fatty acids resulting from sex pheromone inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Cassau
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Department of Animal Physiology, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
| | - Jürgen Krieger
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Department of Animal Physiology, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
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Schwartz M, Boichot V, Muradova M, Fournier P, Senet P, Nicolai A, Canon F, Lirussi F, Ladeira R, Maibeche M, Chertemps T, Aubert E, Didierjean C, Neiers F. Structure-activity analysis suggests an olfactory function for the unique antennal delta glutathione transferase of Apis mellifera. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:3038-3048. [PMID: 37933500 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Glutathione transferases (GST) are detoxification enzymes that conjugate glutathione to a wide array of molecules. In the honey bee Apis mellifera, AmGSTD1 is the sole member of the delta class of GSTs, with expression in antennae. Here, we structurally and biochemically characterized AmGSTD1 to elucidate its function. We showed that AmGSTD1 can efficiently catalyse the glutathione conjugation of classical GST substrates. Additionally, AmGSTD1 exhibits binding properties with a range of odorant compounds. AmGSTD1 has a peculiar interface with a structural motif we propose to call 'sulfur sandwich'. This motif consists of a cysteine disulfide bridge sandwiched between the sulfur atoms of two methionine residues and is stabilized by CH…S hydrogen bonds and S…S sigma-hole interactions. Thermal stability studies confirmed that this motif is important for AmGSTD1 stability and, thus, could facilitate its functions in olfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Schwartz
- CSGA, Flavour Perception: Molecular Mechanisms (Flavours), Université de Bourgogne, INRAE, CNRS, Institut Agro, Dijon, France
| | - Valentin Boichot
- CSGA, Flavour Perception: Molecular Mechanisms (Flavours), Université de Bourgogne, INRAE, CNRS, Institut Agro, Dijon, France
| | - Mariam Muradova
- CSGA, Flavour Perception: Molecular Mechanisms (Flavours), Université de Bourgogne, INRAE, CNRS, Institut Agro, Dijon, France
- International Research Center "Biotechnologies of the Third Millennium", Faculty of Biotechnologies (BioTech), ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Patrick Senet
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne, UMR 6303 CNRS, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Adrien Nicolai
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne, UMR 6303 CNRS, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Francis Canon
- CSGA, Flavour Perception: Molecular Mechanisms (Flavours), Université de Bourgogne, INRAE, CNRS, Institut Agro, Dijon, France
| | - Frederic Lirussi
- Plateforme PACE, Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, Bioinformatique & Big Data Au Service de La Santé 2B2S, UFR Santé, Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM U1231, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Besançon, France
| | - Ruben Ladeira
- Plateforme PACE, Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, Bioinformatique & Big Data Au Service de La Santé 2B2S, UFR Santé, Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM U1231, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Besançon, France
| | - Martine Maibeche
- Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, Sorbonne Université, INRAE, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Chertemps
- Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, Sorbonne Université, INRAE, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Fabrice Neiers
- CSGA, Flavour Perception: Molecular Mechanisms (Flavours), Université de Bourgogne, INRAE, CNRS, Institut Agro, Dijon, France
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4
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Shangguan C, Kuang Y, Gao L, Zhu B, Chen XD, Yu X. Antennae-enriched expression of candidate odorant degrading enzyme genes in the turnip aphid, Lipaphis erysimi. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1228570. [PMID: 37476684 PMCID: PMC10354451 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1228570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Aphids heavily rely on their olfactory system for foraging behavior. Odorant-degrading enzymes (ODEs) are essential in preserving the olfactory acuity of aphids by removing redundant odorants in the antennae. Certain enzymes within this group stand out as being enriched and/or biased expressed in the antennae, such as carboxylesterases (CXEs), cytochrome P450 (CYPs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Here, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of antennae and body tissue to isolate the antennal ODE genes of turnip aphid Lipaphis erysimi. A dataset of one CXE, seven CYPs, two GSTs, and five UGTs enriched in the antennae was identified and subjected to sequence analysis. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analyses showed that 13 ODE genes (LeCXE6, LeCYP4c1, LeCYP6a2, LeCYP6a13, LeCYP6a14.2, LeCYP6k1, LeCYP18a1, LeGST1, LeUGT1-7, LeUGT2B7, LeUGT2B13, LeUGT2C1.1, and LeUGT2C1.2) were specifically or significantly elevated in antennal tissues. Among these antennae-enriched ODEs, LeCYP4c1, LeCYP6a2, LeCYP6a13, LeCYP6a14.2, LeCYP18a1, LeUGT2B7, and LeUGT2B13 were found to exhibit significantly higher expression levels in alate aphids compared to apterous and nymph aphids, suggesting their putative role in detecting new host plant location. The results presented in this study highlight the identification and expression of ODE genes in L. erysimi, paving the path to investigate their functional role in odorant degradation during the olfactory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaozhi Shangguan
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Nanling Insect Biology/National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yinhui Kuang
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Nanling Insect Biology/National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Liwei Gao
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Nanling Insect Biology/National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Nanling Insect Biology/National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xue Dong Chen
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Xiudao Yu
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Nanling Insect Biology/National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
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5
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Zhang L, Shen Y, Jiang X, Liu S. Transcriptomic Identification and Expression Profile Analysis of Odorant-Degrading Enzymes from the Asian Corn Borer Moth, Ostrinia furnacalis. INSECTS 2022; 13:1027. [PMID: 36354851 PMCID: PMC9697913 DOI: 10.3390/insects13111027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Asian corn borer moth Ostrinia furnacalis is an important lepidopteran pest of maize in Asia. Odorant-degrading enzymes (ODEs), including carboxylesterases (CCEs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), cytochrome P450s (CYPs), UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs), and aldehyde oxidases (AOXs), are responsible for rapid inactivation of odorant signals in the insect antennae. In this study, we performed a transcriptome assembly for the antennae of O. furnacalis to identify putative ODE genes. Transcriptome sequencing revealed 35,056 unigenes, and 21,012 (59.94%) of these were annotated by searching against the reference sequences in the NCBI non-redundant (NR) protein database. For functional classification, these unigenes were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO), Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotations. We identified 79 genes encoding putative ODEs: 19 CCEs, 17 GSTs, 24 CYPs, 13 UGTs, and 6 AOXs. BLASTX best hit results indicated that these genes shared quite high amino acid identities with their respective orthologs from other lepidopteran species. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR showed that OfurCCE2, OfurCCE5, and OfurCCE18 were enriched in male antennae, while OfurCCE7 and OfurCCE10 were enriched in female antennae. OfurCCE14 and OfurCCE15 were expressed at near-equal amounts in the antennae of both sexes. Our findings establish a solid foundation for future studies aimed at understanding the olfactory functions of these genes in O. furnacalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liya Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Yidan Shen
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Xingchuan Jiang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Su Liu
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
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6
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Park JW, Wang X, Xu RH. Revealing the mystery of persistent smell loss in Long COVID patients. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:4795-4808. [PMID: 35874953 PMCID: PMC9305264 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.73485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is hopefully approaching its end in many countries as herd immunity develops and weaker strains of SARS-CoV-2 dominate. However, a new concern occurs over the long-term effects of COVID-19, collectively called "Long COVID", as some symptoms of the nervous system last even after patients recover from COVID-19. This review focuses on studies of anosmia, i.e., impairment of smell, which is the most common sensory defect during the disease course and is caused by olfactory dysfunctions. It remains mysterious how the olfactory functions are affected since the virus can't invade olfactory receptor neurons. We describe several leading hypotheses about the mystery in hope to provide insights into the pathophysiology and treatment strategies for anosmia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Woo Park
- Center of Reproduction, Development & Aging, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China.,Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Center of Reproduction, Development & Aging, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China.,Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Ren-He Xu
- Center of Reproduction, Development & Aging, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China.,Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
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7
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Yang S, Zhang W. Systematic analysis of olfactory protein-protein interactions network of fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 110:e21882. [PMID: 35249240 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Olfaction is one of the physiological traits of insect behavior. Insects have evolved a sophisticated olfactory system and use a combined coding strategy to process general odor. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model to reveal the molecular and cellular mechanisms of odor detection. Identifying new olfactory targets through complex interactions will contribute to a better understanding of the functions, interactions, and signaling pathways of olfactory proteins. However, the mechanism of D. melanogaster olfaction is still unclear, and more olfactory proteins are required to be discovered. In this study, we tried to explore essential proteins in the olfactory system of D. melanogaster and conduct protein-protein interactions (PPIs) analysis. We constructed the PPIs network of the olfactory system of D. melanogaster, consisting of 863 proteins and 18,959 interactions. Various methods were used to perform functional enrichment analysis, topological analysis and cluster analysis. Our results confirmed that Class B scavenger receptors (SR-Bs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) play an essential role in olfaction of D. melanogaster. The proteins obtained in this study can be used for subsequent functional identification in D. melanogaster olfactory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shengzhen, China
| | - WenJun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Identification and Characterization of UDP-Glycosyltransferase Genes in a Cerambycid Beetle, Pharsalia antennata Gahan, 1894 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14050348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The cerambycid beetle, Pharsalia antennata Gahan, 1894 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is a wood-boring pest that spends most of its life cycle in the trunks or under the bark of trees. These distinctive biological characteristics make it likely that this beetle will encounter a number of plant defensive compounds, coupled with a broad range of host plants, possibly resulting in the overexpression or expansion of uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferase (UGT) genes. Here, we identified and characterized the UGT gene family in P. antennata through transcriptome data, sequence and phylogenetic analyses, and PCR and homology modeling approaches. In total, 59 transcripts encoding UGTs were identified, 34 of which harbored full-length sequences and shared high conservation with the UGTs of Anoplophora glabripennis. Of the 34 PantUGTs, only 31.78% amino acid identity was observed on average, but catalytic and sugar binding residues were highly conserved. Phylogenetic analyses revealed four Cerambycidae-specific clades, including 30 members from P. antennata. Combining the transcriptome and PCR data showed that PantUGTs had a wide tissue expression, and the majority of the genes were presented mainly in antennae or abdomens, suggesting their putative roles in olfaction and detoxification. This study provides, for the first time, information on the molecular and genetic basis of P. antennata, greatly enhancing our knowledge of the detoxification-related UGT gene family.
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9
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Male-Biased microRNA Discovery in the Pea Aphid. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12060533. [PMID: 34201015 PMCID: PMC8228725 DOI: 10.3390/insects12060533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms modulate gene expression levels during development, shaping how a single genome produces a diversity of phenotypes. Here, we begin to explore the epigenetic regulation of sexual dimorphism in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) by focusing on microRNAs. Previous analyses of microRNAs in aphids have focused solely on females, so we performed deep sequencing of a sample containing early-stage males. We used this sample, plus samples from Genbank, to find 207 novel pea aphid microRNA coding loci. We localized microRNA loci to a chromosome-level assembly of the pea aphid genome and found that those on the X chromosome have lower overall expression compared to those on autosomes. We then identified a set of 19 putative male-biased microRNAs and found them enriched on the X chromosome. Finally, we performed protein-coding RNA-Seq of first instar female and male pea aphids to identify genes with lower expression in males. 10 of these genes were predicted targets of the 19 male-biased microRNAs. Our study provides the most complete set of microRNAs in the pea aphid to date and serves as foundational work for future studies on the epigenetic control of sexual dimorphism.
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10
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Ahn SJ, Marygold SJ. The UDP-Glycosyltransferase Family in Drosophila melanogaster: Nomenclature Update, Gene Expression and Phylogenetic Analysis. Front Physiol 2021; 12:648481. [PMID: 33815151 PMCID: PMC8010143 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.648481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are important conjugation enzymes found in all kingdoms of life, catalyzing a sugar conjugation with small lipophilic compounds and playing a crucial role in detoxification and homeostasis. The UGT gene family is defined by a signature motif in the C-terminal domain where the uridine diphosphate (UDP)-sugar donor binds. UGTs have been identified in a number of insect genomes over the last decade and much progress has been achieved in characterizing their expression patterns and molecular functions. Here, we present an update of the complete repertoire of UGT genes in Drosophila melanogaster and provide a brief overview of the latest research in this model insect. A total of 35 UGT genes are found in the D. melanogaster genome, localized to chromosomes 2 and 3 with a high degree of gene duplications on the chromosome arm 3R. All D. melanogaster UGT genes have now been named in FlyBase according to the unified UGT nomenclature guidelines. A phylogenetic analysis of UGT genes shows lineage-specific gene duplications. Analysis of anatomical and induced gene expression patterns demonstrate that some UGT genes are differentially expressed in various tissues or after environmental treatments. Extended searches of UGT orthologs from 18 additional Drosophila species reveal a diversity of UGT gene numbers and composition. The roles of Drosophila UGTs identified to date are briefly reviewed, and include xenobiotic metabolism, nicotine resistance, olfaction, cold tolerance, sclerotization, pigmentation, and immunity. Together, the updated genomic information and research overview provided herein will aid further research in this developing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Joon Ahn
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States
| | - Steven J Marygold
- FlyBase, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Insects thrive in diverse ecological niches in large part because of their highly sophisticated olfactory systems. Over the last two decades, a major focus in the study of insect olfaction has been on the role of olfactory receptors in mediating neuronal responses to environmental chemicals. In vivo, these receptors operate in specialized structures, called sensilla, which comprise neurons and non-neuronal support cells, extracellular lymph fluid and a precisely shaped cuticle. While sensilla are inherent to odour sensing in insects, we are only just beginning to understand their construction and function. Here, we review recent work that illuminates how odour-evoked neuronal activity is impacted by sensillar morphology, lymph fluid biochemistry, accessory signalling molecules in neurons and the physiological crosstalk between sensillar cells. These advances reveal multi-layered molecular and cellular mechanisms that determine the selectivity, sensitivity and dynamic modulation of odour-evoked responses in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden R Schmidt
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Richard Benton
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
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12
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Soria-Gómez E. Special Issue "Olfaction: From Genes to Behavior". Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11060654. [PMID: 32549403 PMCID: PMC7348778 DOI: 10.3390/genes11060654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Soria-Gómez
- Department of Neurosciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; or
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
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