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Updated: Jul 8, 2025

Localization of Odorant Receptor Genes in Locust Antennae by RNA In Situ Hybridization
Published on: July 13, 2017
Elucidation of the structural basis for ligand binding and translocation in conserved insect odorant receptor
Jody Pacalon1, Guillaume Audic2, Justine Magnat2
1Université Côte d'Azur, Institut de Chimie de Nice UMR7272, CNRS, Nice, France.
Abstract:
In numerous insects, the olfactory receptor family forms a unique class of heteromeric cation channels. Recent progress in resolving the odorant receptor structures offers unprecedented opportunities for deciphering their molecular mechanisms of ligand recognition. Unexpectedly, these structures in apo or ligand-bound states did not reveal the pathway taken by the ligands between the extracellular space and the deep internal cavities. By combining molecular modeling with electrophysiological recordings, we identified amino acids involved in the dynamic entry pathway and the binding of VUAA1 to Drosophila melanogaster's odorant receptor co-receptor (Orco). Our results provide evidence for the exact location of the agonist binding site and a detailed and original mechanism of ligand translocation controlled by a network of conserved residues. These findings would explain the particularly high selectivity of Orcos for their ligands.
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