15 - Olfactory genomics within the Lepidoptera

Abstract

Enormous progresses in our understanding of the primary processes of insect odorant detection have been made thanks to pioneer studies conducted on Lepidoptera and their remarkable sex pheromone communication system. Pheromones are detected by specialized odorant receptors, the pheromone receptors. At the time of the first edition of this book in 2003, these receptors were not yet functionally characterized. Today, with accumulated knowledge of their sequences and function, many insights have been gained. We are however still far from understanding how these receptors became fine-tuned to intraspecific signals and the specific genetic and evolutionary changes that led to their divergence. This chapter relates the advances made in odorant and pheromone receptor identification in Lepidoptera in the context of the “omic” era, describes the different approaches developed for their functional studies, and summarizes how comparative studies shed light on their possible evolution.