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Electroantennography-based Bio-hybrid Odor-detecting Drone using Silkmoth Antennae for Odor Source Localization
Published on: August 27, 2021
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Pheromone binding protein is involved in temporal olfactory resolution in the silkmoth
Yusuke Shiota1, Takeshi Sakurai1,2, Noriyasu Ando1
1Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan.
Iscience
|November 22, 2021
Summary
Male moths need high temporal resolution to track airborne pheromones. Loss of pheromone binding protein (BmPBP1) in silkmoths impaired this sensory resolution, hindering their ability to locate females.
Area of Science:
- Olfactory neuroscience
- Insect behavior
- Chemical ecology
Background:
- Male moths use female sex pheromones for locating mates.
- Air turbulence creates discontinuous pheromone plumes, requiring high temporal resolution for efficient tracking.
- Pheromone binding proteins (PBPs) are thought to play a role in olfactory signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of pheromone binding protein 1 (BmPBP1) in the temporal resolution of olfactory perception and behavior in male silkmoths.
- To determine if the loss of functional BmPBP1 affects the ability of male moths to track pheromone plumes and locate females.
Main Methods:
- Generation of BmPBP1-knockout silkmoths.
- Assessment of olfactory temporal sensory resolution in male antennae.
- Behavioral analysis of male moths' responses to pheromone stimuli, including walking and turning patterns.
- Quantification of time required for locating pheromone sources and females.
Main Results:
- Loss of functional BmPBP1 significantly lowered the temporal sensory resolution of male antennae.
- BmPBP1-knockout males exhibited reduced straight walking and increased turning behavior when detecting and losing pheromone contact, respectively.
- BmPBP1-knockout males required significantly more time to locate pheromone sources and females compared to wild-type moths.
Conclusions:
- BmPBP1 plays a critical role in determining the kinetics of olfactory responses in male moths.
- High temporal olfactory and behavioral resolutions, mediated by BmPBP1, are essential for efficient tracking of pheromone plumes and locating females.
