title: Identification and Characterization of Two "Sensory Neuron Membrane Proteins" (SNMPs) of the Desert Locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae).
abstract: Pheromone-responsive neurons of insects not only require specific receptors but in addition several auxiliary components, including the "sensory neuron membrane protein," SNMP. Accordingly, SNMP is considered as a marker for neurons responding to pheromones. For the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria, it is known that the behavior, including aggregation behavior and courtship inhibition, is largely controlled by pheromones. However, little is known about pheromones, their receptors, and the pheromone-responsive cells in locusts. In this study, we have identified two SNMP subtypes, SNMP1 and SNMP2, and compared their phylogenetic relationship and primary structure motifs with SNMPs from other species. Both SNMPs were found in chemosensory tissues, especially the antennae. Employing double in situ hybridization, we identified and localized the SNMP-expressing cells in the antennae. Cells expressing SNMP1 were localized to sensilla trichodea but also to sensilla basiconica, which in locust respond to pheromones. One or a few cells express SNMP1 within the multineuron clusters from sensilla basiconica, whereas the SNMP2 subtype was expressed in cells surrounding the neuron clusters, possibly supporting cells. Based on the finding that SNMP1 is expressed in distinct neurons under chemosensory sensilla, it is conceivable that these cells may represent pheromone-responsive neurons of the desert locust.
authors.affiliation: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physiology, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany (jiangxingcong@126.com; p_pregitzer@uni -hohen heim.de; breer@uni-hohenheim.de; juergen.krieger@zoologie.uni-halle.de).
authors.forename: Xingcong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physiology, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany (jiangxingcong@126.com; p_pregitzer@uni -hohen heim.de; breer@uni-hohenheim.de; juergen.krieger@zoologie.uni-halle.de).
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pregitzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany (grosse-wilde@ice.mpg.de).
authors.forename: Ewald
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grosse-Wilde
authors.affiliation: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physiology, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany (jiangxingcong@126.com; p_pregitzer@uni -hohen heim.de; breer@uni-hohenheim.de; juergen.krieger@zoologie.uni-halle.de).
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breer
authors.affiliation: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physiology, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany (jiangxingcong@126.com; p_pregitzer@uni -hohen heim.de; breer@uni-hohenheim.de; juergen.krieger@zoologie.uni-halle.de), Department of Animal Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Zoology, 06099 Halle, Germany, and juergen.krie ger@zoologie.uni-halle.de.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krieger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone
keywords: antenna; desert locust; in situ hybridization; olfaction; sensory neuron membrane protein