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Localization of Odorant Receptor Genes in Locust Antennae by RNA In Situ Hybridization
Published on: July 13, 2017
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Locusts adopt IP3 as a second messenger for olfactory signal transduction
Jing Yang1,2, Helen He1,2, Shijie Dong1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, China.
Science Advances
|September 10, 2025
Summary
Insects use inositol trisphosphate (IP3) as a key secondary messenger in olfactory signal transduction, not G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). This finding clarifies the universal role of IP3 in insect olfaction.
Area of Science:
- Insect olfaction
- Molecular biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Vertebrates and insects utilize distinct mechanisms for olfactory signal transduction.
- The specific secondary messengers involved in insect olfaction remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the secondary messengers in insect olfactory signal transduction using the aggregation pheromone 4-vinylanisole (4VA) as a model.
- To elucidate the role of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) in locust olfaction.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the 4-vinylanisole (4VA) pheromone pathway in locusts as a model system.
- Investigated the roles of odorant-binding proteins (OBP10, OBP13), odorant receptors (OR35-Orco), lipid-binding protein (Clvs2), and phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCe1).
- Assessed the production of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and its function in signal transduction.
Main Results:
- 4VA is transported by OBP10 and OBP13 to the OR35-Orco receptor complex, initiating downstream signaling.
- Clvs2 facilitates phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate transport, increasing substrate availability for IP3 production.
- PLCe1 enhances IP3 levels, which are crucial for converting antennal chemical signals into neural signals.
Conclusions:
- Inositol trisphosphate (IP3) acts as a critical secondary messenger in insect olfaction, replacing the role of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) found in vertebrates.
- This study reveals the universal function of IP3 in olfactory signal perception across insects.
- Identified key molecular players and pathways in insect olfactory signal transduction.
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