Accession Number:

ADA564867

Title:

Selectivity of Odorant Receptors in Insects

Descriptive Note:

Journal article

Corporate Author:

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE BELTSVILLE MD

Personal Author(s):

• Bohbot, Jonathan D.
• Dickens, Joseph C.

Report Date:

2012-07-13

Pagination or Media Count:

5.0

Abstract:

Insect olfactory receptors ORs detect chemicals, shape neuronal physiology, and regulate behavior. Although ORs have been categorized as generalists and specialists based on their ligand spectrum, both electrophysiological studies and recent pharmacological investigations show that ORs specifically recognize non-pheromonal compounds, and that our understanding of odorant-selectivity mirrors our knowledge of insect chemical ecology. As we are progressively becoming aware that ORs are activated through a variety of mechanisms, the molecular basis of odorant-selectivity and the corollary notion of broad-tuning need to be re-examined from a pharmacological and evolutionary perspective.

Descriptors:

• *INSECTS
• ECOLOGY
• ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
• EVOLUTION(BIOLOGY)
• NERVE CELLS
• OLFACTORY NERVE
• PHARMACOLOGY

Subject Categories:

• Medicine and Medical Research

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE