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Related Experiment Videos

Odorant-binding proteins from a primitive termite.

Yuko Ishida1, Vicky P Chiang, Michael I Haverty

  • 1Department of Entomology University of California, Davis 95616, USA.

Journal of Chemical Ecology
|November 27, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Researchers identified novel odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) in a primitive termite, Zootermopsis nevadensis nevadensis. This discovery expands our understanding of insect olfaction and OBP evolution in less derived insect species.

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Area of Science:

  • Insect olfaction
  • Molecular biology
  • Evolutionary entomology

Background:

  • Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are crucial for insect olfaction.
  • OBPs have been primarily identified in highly evolved insect orders.
  • Primitive insect species like termites were thought to lack OBPs, possessing only chemosensory proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and characteristics of OBPs in a primitive termite species, Zootermopsis nevadensis nevadensis.
  • To clone and characterize OBPs from this termite.
  • To understand the evolutionary implications of OBP presence in primitive insects.

Main Methods:

  • Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) to detect antennae-specific proteins.
  • Multiple cDNA cloning to identify and characterize OBPs.

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  • N-terminal amino acid sequencing of antennal proteins.
  • Database searches for homology analysis.

    • Main Results:

    • Isolation and cloning of three antennae-specific OBPs (ZnevOBP1, ZnevOBP2, ZnevOBP3) from Z. n. nevadensis.
    • Detection of a major and four minor antennae-specific proteins.
    • Evidence suggests multiple OBPs are involved in olfaction in this primitive termite.
    • Identified OBPs are homologous to pheromone-binding proteins in beetles and moths.

    Conclusions:

    • This study reports the first identification of OBPs in a primitive termite species.
    • The findings challenge the previous understanding of OBP distribution across insect orders.
    • The presence of OBPs in Z. n. nevadensis provides insights into the early evolution of insect olfaction and OBP function.