Differential expression of SNMP-1 and SNMP-2 proteins in pheromone-sensitive hairs of moths.
In moths the detection of female-released sex pheromones involves hairlike structures on the male antenna. These long sensilla trichodea usually contain 2-3 chemosensory neurons accompanied by several supporting cells. Previous studies have shown that the pheromone-specific neurons are characterized by a "sensory neuron membrane protein" (SNMP) which is homologous to the CD36 family and localized in the dendrite membrane. By employing the SNMP-2 sequence from Manduca sexta we have isolated cDNAs that encode SNMP-2 proteins from Heliothis virescens (HvirSNMP-2) and Antheraea polyphemus (ApolSNMP-2). To elucidate the topographic and cell type-specific expression of these SNMP subtypes, 2-color in situ hybridization experiments were performed with tissue sections through the male antennae. For H. virescens, a specific probe for the pheromone receptor HR13 was used to identify pheromone-responsive neurons. It was found that HvirSNMP-1 and HR13 were coexpressed in the same cells; in contrast, HvirSNMP-2 was not expressed in HR13 cells but rather in cells that surrounded the HR13 neurons, apparently the supporting cells. A corresponding expression pattern was also found for ApolSNMP-1 and ApolSNMP-2 on the antenna of male A. polyphemus. Our results indicate that SNMP-1s and SNMP-2s are differentially expressed in cells of pheromone-sensitive sensilla and suggest distinct functions for the 2 SNMP subtypes in the olfactory system.
Forstner
Maike
M
Institute of Physiology (230), University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
Gohl
Thomas
T
Gondesen
Inga
I
Raming
Klaus
K
Breer
Heinz
H
Krieger
Jürgen
J
D000818:Animals; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015723:Gene Library; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007915:Lepidoptera; D008297:Male; D018402:Manduca; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D019476:Insect Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone; C106308:sensory neuron membrane protein 1; C438314:sensory neuron membrane protein 2, Antheraea polyphemus