The evolution of purinergic receptors involved in recognition of a blood meal by hematophagous insects.
Many blood feeders use adenine nucleotides as cues for locating blood meal. Structure-activity relationship of adenine nucleotides as phagostimulants varies between closely-related species of blood feeders. It is suggested that a preexisting diverse pool of nucleotide-binding proteins present in all living cells, serves as a source of receptor proteins for the gustatory receptors involved in blood detection. It is proposed that the selection of any such nucleotide-binding protein is random.
Galun
R
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Department of Parasitology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem.
D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000502:physiology*
D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic