Functional characterization of a sex pheromone receptor in the pest moth Spodoptera littoralis by heterologous expression in Drosophila

摘要: Moth sex pheromone communication is recognised as a long-standing model for insect olfaction studies, and widespread knowledge has been accumulated on this subject thanks to numerous chemical, electrophysiological behavioural studies. A key step the identification of candidate receptors, opening new routes understanding specificity sensitivity system, but only few these receptors have yet functionally characterised. In context, we aim at unravelling molecular bases reception in noctuid moth Spodoptera littoralis. Taking advantage collection antennal-expressed sequence tags, previously identified three fragments species. Here, report full-length cloning one named SlitOR6. Both expression pattern analyses were consistent with its annotation receptor, which further confirmed by functional characterization. Using Drosophila antennae heterologous single component blend S. littoralis, (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate, ligand Two strategies employed: (i) expressing SlitOR6 majority olfactory neurons, addition endogenous monitoring responses stimuli electroantennography; (ii) replacing receptor OR67d response sensillum recordings. Results fully congruent acetate highly specific both systems. This approach appears be efficient reliable studying an vivo context.