title: Chemosensory proteins of Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae).
abstract: We describe a family of proteins abundantly expressed in the chemoreception sensory organs, the antennae and legs, of the desert locust, Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera, Acrididae). Using polymerase chain reaction-based approaches and homology screenings, "OS-D"-like proteins were identified in L. migratoria. The different sub-types (LmigOS-Ds) are very similar to each other and share about 50-70% identity with OS-Ds from Drosophila melanogaster and Periplaneta americana. A similar degree of identity was also observed with moth OS-Ds. Northern blot analysis revealed a strong expression of the LmigOS-Ds in the antennae and legs, suggesting their involvement in chemosensory processes. Despite the lack of direct evidence for their role in chemosensation, LmigOS-Ds and their homologs seem to constitute a large protein family, characterized by a striking abundance and diversity among insect chemosensory organs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. jfp@uni-hohenheim.de
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Picimbon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krieger
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins