Abstract
Among the insect olfactory receptors the odorant receptors (ORs) evolved in parallel to the onset of insect flight. A special property of this receptor type is the capability to adjust sensitivity of odor detection according to previous odor contacts. This article presents a current view on regulatory processes affecting the performance of ORs and proposes a model of mechanisms contributing to OR sensitization.
Highlights
The performance of membrane proteins such as ion channels or receptors is dynamically adjusted according to changing physiological requirements
Three types of receptor proteins detect volatile chemical information in insects. These are odorant receptors (ORs) which are restricted to insects, specific gustatory receptors (GRs) detecting carbon dioxide and receptors related to ionotropic glutamate receptors, called ionotropic receptors (IRs)
Similar to G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), insect ORs belong to the class of heptahelical transmembrane proteins
Summary
Among the insect olfactory receptors the odorant receptors (ORs) evolved in parallel to the onset of insect flight. A special property of this receptor type is the capability to adjust sensitivity of odor detection according to previous odor contacts. This article presents a current view on regulatory processes affecting the performance of ORs and proposes a model of mechanisms contributing to OR sensitization. Edited by: Frédéric Marion-Poll, AgroParisTech Institut des Sciences et Industries du Vivant et de l’Environnement, France. Reviewed by: Philippe Lucas, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France Eva Maria Neuhaus, Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena, Germany
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