Browsing by Subject "Pheromones"

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    Lokalisation von Pheromon-Rezeptoren und -Bindeproteinen in antennalen Sensillen von Insekten
    (2007) Gohl, Thomas; Breer, Heinz
    The remarkable reactivity of moth to specific pheromones is based on the extreme selectivity and sensitivity of sensory cells in the male antennae. This feature is supposed to be based on cells equipped with specific receptors. Only the sequencing of the genomes of Bombyx mori and Heliothis virescens provided the possibility to identify candidate genes of olfactory receptors in moths. Upon detailed inspection of candidate receptors it turned out that within the generally very heterogeneous group of receptor-genes a subfamily exists containing members of both species showing striking sequence homology. A conservation of the primary structure of receptors for pheromones has been postulated. For a continuing characterization in these studies different approaches were used to verify that these receptors are indeed expressed in cells of pheromone-sensitive sensilla (sensilla trichodea). By means of ?whole mount? in situ hybridization experiments the RNA of the receptor types BmOR1 and BmOR3 could be visualized in directly neighboring cells reflecting the topology of trichoid sensilla. Also some of the Heliothis receptor types (HR13, HR14, HR16) could be assigned to sensilla trichodea. In addition to the specific receptors, the pheromone binding proteins (PBPs) are expected to play an important role in the detection of hydrophobic pheromone molecules. PBPs are produced by glia-like cells surrounding the sensory neurons. In double in situ hybridization experiments it could be shown that HR13-cells are indeed surrounded by cells expressing HvirPBP1 and HvirPBP2. Analysis comparing the topology of different receptor-types showed that cells expressing HR13 can be assigned to sensilla trichodea type A, whereas HR14 and HR16 are expressed in cells of sensilla trichodea type C. This characteristic expression pattern is considered as a further indication that these candidate-receptors are indeed pheromone-receptors. The assignment of individual receptor-types to distinct sensilla-types provides the basis for investigating the functional implications of receptor-types for the registration of main or minor components of complex pheromone-blends. Further it turned out that HR13 shows coexpression with SNMP1 (sensory neuron membrane protein 1) which is considered as a ?marker?-protein for antennal sensory neurons. This is however not the case for receptor types HR14 and HR16. In search of further SNMP-types screening-experiments were carried out which led to the identification of a novel SNMP-type (SNMP2) of Heliothis virescens. Subsequent studies concerning the expression of SNMP2 showed that the topologic distribution of SNMP2-cells is comparable to SNMP1-cells, but they show a different morphology. Further experiments revealed that SNMP2 is in fact expressed in PBP-producing cells. These findings imply that the proposed putative function of SNMPs has to be reconsidered. One major goal of this study was the attempt, to identify receptor-relevant cells by visualization of mRNA via in situ hybridization but to visualize the localization of the receptor-protein via immunohistochemical approaches. Although the generation of antibodies for olfactory receptors is very difficult, it was possible to raise antibodies specific for receptor type HR13. Using these antibodies in immunohistochemical approaches allowed to also visualize HR13-receptor-protein. By means of double-staining experiments using HR13-specific antisense RNA-probes and anti-HR13 antibodies mRNA and protein were visualized in the same specific cells. Using confocal laserscanning microscopy, it was possible to document that receptor-protein was indeed located in the sensory dendrites. Further, the receptor-protein was also visualized in the axonal processes of sensory cells and the receptor-specific staining revealed that within the antennal nerve HR13-axons appear to be organized in fascicles. These HR13-immunolabeled fascicles were visible until they reach the ?sorting zone? of the antennal lobe; in contrast to mouse olfactory bulb, no receptor specific staining was visible in the antennal lobe.