Contributions of the Conserved Insect Carbon Dioxide Receptor Subunits to Odor Detection

The CO₂ receptor in mosquitoes is broadly tuned to detect many diverse odorants. The receptor consists of three subunits (Gr1, Gr2, and Gr3) in mosquitoes but only two subunits in Drosophila: Gr21a (Gr1 ortholog) and Gr63a (Gr3 ortholog). We demonstrate that Gr21a is required for CO₂ responses in Drosophila, as has been shown for Gr63a. Next, we generate a Drosophila double mutant for Gr21a and Gr63a, and in this background, we functionally express combinations of Aedes Gr1, Gr2, and Gr3 genes in the CO₂ empty neuron. Only two subunits, Gr2 and Gr3, suffice for response to CO₂. Addition of Gr1 increases sensitivity to CO₂, whereas it decreases the response to pyridine. The inhibitory effect of the antagonist isobutyric acid is observed upon addition of Gr1. Gr1 therefore increases the diversity of ligands of the receptor and modulates the response of the receptor complex.