title: Molecular and functional characterization of a candidate sex pheromone receptor OR1 in Spodoptera litura.
abstract: Olfaction is primarily mediated by highly specified olfactory receptors (ORs). Here, we cloned and identified an olfactory receptor, named SlituOR1 (Genbank no. JN835269), from Spodoptera litura and found evidence that it is a candidate pheromone receptor. It exhibited male-biased expression in the antennae, where it was localized at the base of sensilla trichoidea, the antennal sensilla mainly responsive to pheromones in moths. Conserved orthologues of this receptor, found among known pheromone receptors within the Lepidoptera, and SlituOR1 were placed among a clade of candidate pheromone receptors in a phylogeny tree of insect OR gene sequences. SlituOR1 showed differential expression in S. litura populations attracted to traps baited with different ratios of the two sex pheromone components (9Z,11E)-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9E11-14:OAc) and (9Z,12E)-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9E12-14:OAc). Knocking down of SlituOR1 by RNA interference reduced the electroantennogram (EAG) response to Z9E11-14:OAc, and this result is consistent with the field trapping experiment. We infer that variation in transcription levels of olfactory receptors may modulate sex pheromone perception in male moths and could provide some of the flexibility required to maintain the functionality of communication with females when a population is adapting to a new niche and reproductive isolation becomes an advantage.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.|Institute of Health & Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China.
authors.forename: Qin-Hui
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Nan
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, BBSRC, Harpenden, Herts. AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Jing-Jiang
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D034622:RNA Interference; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone / Q000235:genetics; D058618:Sensilla / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone; D012724:Sex Attractants
keywords: (9Z,11E)-tetradecadienyl acetate; (9Z,12E)-tetradecadienyl acetate; RNA interference; electroantennogram (EAG); in situ hybridization; individual variation; olfactory receptor