title: Pheromone binding proteins enhance the sensitivity of olfactory receptors to sex pheromones in Chilo suppressalis.
abstract: Sexual communication in moths offers a simplified scenario to model and investigate insect sensory perception. Both PBPs (pheromone-binding proteins) and PRs (pheromone receptors) are involved in the detection of sex pheromones, but the interplay between them still remains largely unknown. In this study, we have measured the binding affinities of the four recombinant PBPs of Chilo suppressalis (CsupPBPs) to pheromone components and analogs and characterized the six PRs using the Xenopus oocytes expression system. Interestingly, when the responses of PRs were recorded in the presence of PBPs, we measured in several combinations a dramatic increase in signals as well as in sensitivity of such combined systems. Furthermore, the discrimination ability of appropriate combinations of PRs and PBPs was improved compared with the performance of PBPs or PRs alone. Besides further supporting a role of PBPs in the pheromone detection and discrimination, our data shows for the first time that appropriate combinations of PRs and PBPs improved the discrimination ability of PBPs or PRs alone. The variety of responses measured with different pairing of PBPs and PRs indicates the complexity of the olfaction system, which, even for the relatively simple task of detecting sex pheromones, utilises a highly sophisticated combinatorial approach.
authors: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.|Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors: Hetan
authors: H
authors: Chang
authors: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Yang
authors: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Pelosi
authors: Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors: Shuanglin
authors: S
authors: Dong
authors: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors: Guirong
authors: G
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae / Q000378:metabolism; D001681:Biological Assay; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone / Q000378:metabolism; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone; D012724:Sex Attractants