title: Knockdown of a mosquito odorant-binding protein involved in the sensitive detection of oviposition attractants.
abstract: Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) were discovered almost three decades ago, but there is still considerable debate regarding their role(s) in insect olfaction, particularly due to our inability to knockdown OBPs and demonstrate their direct phenotypic effects. By using RNA interference (RNAi), we reduced transcription of a major OBP gene, CquiOBP1, in the antennae of the Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus. Previously, we had demonstrated that the mosquito oviposition pheromone (MOP) binds to CquiOBP1, which is expressed in MOP-sensitive sensilla. Antennae of RNAi-treated mosquitoes showed significantly lower electrophysiological responses to known mosquito oviposition attractants than the antennae of water-injected, control mosquitoes. While electroantennogram (EAG) responses to MOP, skatole, and indole were reduced in the knockdowns, there was no significant difference in the EAG responses from RNAi-treated and water-injected mosquito antennae to nonanal at all doses tested. These data suggest that CquiOBP1 is involved in the reception of some oviposition attractants, and that high levels of OBPs expression are essential for the sensitivity of the insect's olfactory system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guidolin
authors.forename: Zainulabeuddin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cornel
authors.forename: Walter S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Leal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000235:genetics; D004562:Electrocardiography; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology*; D034622:RNA Interference; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C045648:odorant-binding protein