Abstract
Insects possess highly developed olfactory systems which play pivotal roles in its ecological adaptations, host plant location, and oviposition behavior. Bactrocera minax is an oligophagous tephritid insect whose host selection, and oviposition behavior largely depend on the perception of chemical cues. However, there have been very few reports on molecular components related to the olfactory system of B. minax. Therefore, the transcriptome of B. minax were sequenced in this study, with 1 candidate chemosensory protein (CSP), 21 candidate odorant binding proteins (OBPs), 53 candidate odorant receptors (ORs), 29 candidate ionotropic receptors (IRs) and 4 candidate sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) being identified. After that, we sequenced the candidate olfactory genes and performed phylogenetic analysis. qRT-PCR was used to express and characterize 9 genes in olfactory and non-olfactory tissues. Compared with GFP-injected fly (control), dsOBP21-treated B. minax and dsCSP-treated B. minax had lower electrophysiological response to D-limonene (attractant), suggesting the potential involvement of BminOBP21 and BminCSP genes in olfactory perceptions of the fly. Our study establishes the molecular basis of olfaction, tributary for further functional analyses of chemosensory processes in B. minax.
Highlights
Many research workers have pointed out that biosynthesis and receptor molecular recognition systems evolve in synchronous steps during animal signaling process [1,2,3]
Antennae and maxillary palps are two important olfactory organs in the detection of olfactory signals and cues [8]. These organs are covered in sensilla that contain the dendrites of stereotypical combinations of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), odorant receptor (OR) or ionotropic receptor (IR) [9]
The unigene BminCSP was predicted to have the same function with BdorCSP3 in terms of feeding and oviposition [34]
Summary
Many research workers have pointed out that biosynthesis and receptor molecular recognition systems evolve in synchronous steps during animal signaling process [1,2,3]. Odors are a potential tool to control agricultural beneficial and injurious insects [4]. With highly sophisticated olfactory system insects can recognize various volatile chemicals from their prey, host plants and conspecifics [5, 6]. Sensory inputs can be converted into behavioral outputs by synaptic connections in highly streamlined olfactory circuits [7]. Antennae and maxillary palps are two important olfactory organs in the detection of olfactory signals and cues [8]. These organs are covered in sensilla that contain the dendrites of stereotypical combinations of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), odorant receptor (OR) or ionotropic receptor (IR) [9].
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