title: The odorant receptor co-receptor from the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L.
abstract: Recently, the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. has re-emerged as a serious and growing problem in many parts of the world. Presence of resistant bed bugs and the difficulty to eliminate them has renewed interest in alternative control tactics. Similar to other haematophagous arthropods, bed bugs rely on their olfactory system to detect semiochemicals in the environment. Previous studies have morphologically characterized olfactory organs of bed bugs' antenna and have physiologically evaluated the responses of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) to host-derived chemicals. To date, odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and odorant receptors (ORs) associated with these olfaction processes have not been studied in bed bugs. Chemoreception in insects requires formation of heteromeric complexes of ORs and a universal OR coreceptor (Orco). Orco is the constant chain of every odorant receptor in insects and is critical for insect olfaction but does not directly bind to odorants. Orco agonists and antagonists have been suggested as high-value targets for the development of novel insect repellents. In this study, we have performed RNAseq of bed bug sensory organs and identified several odorant receptors as well as Orco. We characterized Orco expression and investigated the effect of chemicals targeting Orco on bed bug behavior and reproduction. We have identified partial cDNAs of six C. lectularius OBPs and 16 ORs. Full length bed bug Orco was cloned and sequenced. Orco is widely expressed in different parts of the bed bug including OR neurons and spermatozoa. Treatment of bed bugs with the agonist VUAA1 changed bed bug pheromone-induced aggregation behavior and inactivated spermatozoa. We have described and characterized for the first time OBPs, ORs and Orco in bed bugs. Given the importance of these molecules in chemoreception of this insect they are interesting targets for the development of novel insect behavior modifiers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America; Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Immo A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Stacy D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America; Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Brittny N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Blakely
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: John I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsujimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Erika Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Monroy
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Maio
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001511:Bedbugs / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D020451:Contig Mapping; D005260:Female; D015723:Gene Library; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010675:Pheromones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010802:Phylogeny; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C045648:odorant-binding protein