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Endogenous insensitivity to the Orco agonist VUAA1 reveals novel olfactory receptor complex properties in the specialist fly Mayetiola destructor

Corcoran, Jacob LU ; Sonntag, Yonathan LU ; Andersson, Martin N LU ; Johanson, Urban LU orcid and Löfstedt, Christer LU (2018) In Scientific Reports 8(1).
Abstract
Insect olfactory receptors are routinely expressed in heterologous systems for functional
characterisation. It was recently discovered that the essential olfactory receptor co-receptor (Orco)
of the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Mdes), does not respond to the agonist VUAA1, which
activates Orco in all other insects analysed to date. Here, using a mutagenesis-based approach we
identified three residues in MdesOrco, located in different transmembrane helices as supported by 3D
modelling, that confer sensitivity to VUAA1. Reciprocal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster (Dmel)
and the noctuid moth Agrotis segetum (Aseg) Orcos diminish sensitivity of these proteins to VUAA1.
Additionally, mutating these residues... (More)
Insect olfactory receptors are routinely expressed in heterologous systems for functional
characterisation. It was recently discovered that the essential olfactory receptor co-receptor (Orco)
of the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Mdes), does not respond to the agonist VUAA1, which
activates Orco in all other insects analysed to date. Here, using a mutagenesis-based approach we
identified three residues in MdesOrco, located in different transmembrane helices as supported by 3D
modelling, that confer sensitivity to VUAA1. Reciprocal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster (Dmel)
and the noctuid moth Agrotis segetum (Aseg) Orcos diminish sensitivity of these proteins to VUAA1.
Additionally, mutating these residues in DmelOrco and AsegOrco compromised odourant receptor (OR)
dependent ligand-induced Orco activation. In contrast, both wild-type and VUAA1-sensitive MdesOrco
were capable of forming functional receptor complexes when coupled to ORs from all three species,
suggesting unique complex properties in M. destructor, and that not all olfactory receptor complexes
are “created” equal. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scientific Reports
volume
8
issue
1
article number
3489
pages
13 pages
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:85042552985
  • pmid:29472565
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-018-21631-3
project
Sex pheromone biosynthesis and odorant receptors in gall midges
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
47956dcf-260c-4e16-b4aa-592a53ed6fa9
date added to LUP
2018-03-08 08:10:17
date last changed
2024-04-15 03:29:33
@article{47956dcf-260c-4e16-b4aa-592a53ed6fa9,
  abstract     = {{Insect olfactory receptors are routinely expressed in heterologous systems for functional<br/>characterisation. It was recently discovered that the essential olfactory receptor co-receptor (Orco)<br/>of the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Mdes), does not respond to the agonist VUAA1, which<br/>activates Orco in all other insects analysed to date. Here, using a mutagenesis-based approach we<br/>identified three residues in MdesOrco, located in different transmembrane helices as supported by 3D<br/>modelling, that confer sensitivity to VUAA1. Reciprocal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster (Dmel)<br/>and the noctuid moth Agrotis segetum (Aseg) Orcos diminish sensitivity of these proteins to VUAA1.<br/>Additionally, mutating these residues in DmelOrco and AsegOrco compromised odourant receptor (OR)<br/>dependent ligand-induced Orco activation. In contrast, both wild-type and VUAA1-sensitive MdesOrco<br/>were capable of forming functional receptor complexes when coupled to ORs from all three species,<br/>suggesting unique complex properties in M. destructor, and that not all olfactory receptor complexes<br/>are “created” equal.}},
  author       = {{Corcoran, Jacob and Sonntag, Yonathan and Andersson, Martin N and Johanson, Urban and Löfstedt, Christer}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Endogenous insensitivity to the Orco agonist VUAA1 reveals novel olfactory receptor complex properties in the specialist fly <i>Mayetiola destructor</i>}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-21631-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-018-21631-3}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}