title: Organization and function ofDrosophilaodorant binding proteins.
abstract: Odorant binding proteins (Obps) are remarkable in their number, diversity, and abundance, yet their role in olfactory coding remains unclear. They are widely believed to be required for transporting hydrophobic odorants through an aqueous lymph to odorant receptors. We construct a map of theDrosophilaantenna, in which the abundant Obps are mapped to olfactory sensilla with defined functions. The results lay a foundation for an incisive analysis of Obp function. The map identifies a sensillum type that contains a single abundantObp,Obp28a.Surprisingly, deletion of the sole abundantObpin these sensilla does not reduce the magnitude of their olfactory responses. The results suggest that this Obp is not required for odorant transport and that this sensillum does not require an abundant Obp. The results further suggest a novel role for this Obp in buffering changes in the odor environment, perhaps providing a molecular form of gain control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, United States.|Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, United States.
authors.forename: Nikki K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1938-1929
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Larter
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4274-0504
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, United States.|Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, United States.
authors.forename: John R
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0244-5180
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Carlson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D004330:Drosophila / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058618:Sensilla / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C045648:odorant-binding protein
keywords: D. melanogaster; Drosophila; neuroscience; odorant binding protein; odorants; olfaction