title: Similar odorants elicit different behavioral and physiological responses, some supersustained.
abstract: An intriguing question in the field of olfaction is how animals distinguish among structurally similar odorants. We systematically analyzed olfactory responses elicited by a panel of 25 pyrazines. We found that structurally similar pyrazines elicit a wide range of behavioral responses from Drosophila larvae. Each pyrazine was tested against all functional receptors of the larval Odor receptor (Or) repertoire, yielding 525 odorant-receptor combinations. Different pyrazines vary markedly in the responses they elicit from the Or repertoire, with most strong responses deriving from two receptors, Or33b and Or59a. Surprisingly, 2-ethylpyrazine and 2-methylpyrazine, which elicit strikingly similar physiological responses across the receptor repertoire, elicit dramatically different behavioral responses. A small fraction of odorant-receptor combinations elicit remarkably long responses. These responses, which we term "supersustained" responses, are receptor specific and odorant specific, and can last for minutes. Such supersustained responses may prevent olfactory neurons from reporting contemporaneous information about the local odor environment. Odors that elicit such responses could provide a novel means of controlling insect pests and vectors of human disease by impairing the location of human hosts, food sources, and mates.
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
authors: Shelby A
authors: SA
authors: Montague
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Mathew
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Carlson
references: J Neurosci. 2004 Dec 8;24(49):11108-19
references: 15590927
references: Neuron. 2008 Jul 10;59(1):110-24
references: 18614033
references: Science. 1973 Nov 2;182(4111):501-3
references: 17832469
references: Neuron. 2007 Apr 5;54(1):89-103
references: 17408580
references: Nat Neurosci. 2007 Nov;10(11):1474-82
references: 17922008
references: Neuron. 2010 Apr 29;66(2):287-99
references: 20435004
references: Nature. 2008 Apr 24;452(7190):1002-6
references: 18408712
references: Neuron. 2008 May 8;58(3):401-13
references: 18466750
references: Curr Biol. 2005 Jun 7;15(11):982-92
references: 15936268
references: J Exp Biol. 2002 Apr;205(Pt 7):989-98
references: 11916994
references: Behav Genet. 1989 Mar;19(2):267-83
references: 2497723
references: Nature. 2007 Nov 1;450(7166):63-70
references: 17972877
references: Neuron. 2003 Mar 6;37(5):827-41
references: 12628173
references: J Neurophysiol. 2007 Mar;97(3):2465-79
references: 17353554
references: Neuron. 2007 Feb 1;53(3):353-69
references: 17270733
references: J Chem Ecol. 2010 Feb;36(2):163-70
references: 20145982
references: Nature. 2010 Mar 4;464(7285):66-71
references: 20130575
references: Cell. 2009 Jan 9;136(1):149-62
references: 19135896
references: Nat Methods. 2008 May;5(5):425-9
references: 18376403
references: Curr Biol. 2005 Sep 6;15(17):1535-47
references: 16139208
references: Cell. 2006 Apr 7;125(1):143-60
references: 16615896
references: Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2004 Dec;14(6):675-84
references: 15582368
references: Cell. 2004 Jun 25;117(7):965-79
references: 15210116
references: Proc Biol Sci. 1990 Nov 22;242(1304):113-9
references: 1981616
references: PLoS Biol. 2010 Aug 31;8(8):
references: 20824161
references: Chem Senses. 2002 Jul;27(6):495-504
references: 12142325
references: Nature. 2008 Apr 24;452(7190):1007-11
references: 18408711
references: J Insect Physiol. 2001 Sep;47(9):1065-1076
references: 11472769
references: J Neurosci. 2010 Feb 10;30(6):1994-2006
references: 20147528
references: Neuron. 2011 Jan 13;69(1):44-60
references: 21220098
references: Neuron. 2004 Sep 2;43(5):703-14
references: 15339651
references: J Chem Ecol. 2002 May;28(5):1075-89
references: 12049228
references: Neuron. 2005 May 5;46(3):445-56
references: 15882644
references: J Neurosci. 2010 Apr 7;30(14):5028-36
references: 20371823
references: Curr Biol. 2005 Dec 6;15(23):2086-96
references: 16332533