title: Avoiding DEET through insect gustatory receptors.
abstract: DEET is the most widely used insect repellent worldwide. In Drosophila olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), DEET is detected through a mechanism employing the olfactory receptor, OR83b. However, it is controversial as to whether ORNs respond directly to DEET or whether DEET blocks the response to attractive odors. Here, we showed that DEET suppressed feeding behavior in Drosophila, and this effect was mediated by gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs). DEET was potent in suppressing feeding as <0.1% DEET elicited aversive behavior. Inhibition of feeding required multiple gustatory receptors (GRs) expressed in inhibitory GRNs. DEET stimulated action potentials in GRNs that respond to aversive compounds, and this response was lost in the Gr32a, Gr33a, and Gr66a mutants. Since 0.02% DEET elicited action potentials, we conclude that DEET directly activates of GRNs. We suggest that the effectiveness of DEET in pest control owes to its dual action in inducing avoidance simultaneously via GRNs and ORNs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Center for Sensory Biology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Youngseok
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montell
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D003671:DEET / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009154:Mutation; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C531466:Gr32a protein, Drosophila; D019476:Insect Proteins; D007302:Insect Repellents; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D003671:DEET
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