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Odorant-binding proteins plus ionotropic receptors mediate olfaction of d-limonene in Tetranychus urticae
Wenchengxin Liu1, Wen Wen1, Yuyi Li1
1Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
Abstract:
Tetranychus urticae Koch is one of the most important pest mites in the world, and chemical control causes serious resistance. d-limonene, a common component of essential oils, is an emerging botanical acaricide that can elicit olfactory responses in various insects. Peripheral olfactory detection of plant volatiles in insects depends on odorant-binding proteins and odorant receptors. However, research on olfactory mechanisms of mites lags far behind that of insects. This study investigated the roles of odorant-binding proteins and ionotropic receptors (IRs) of T.urticae in olfactory perception of d-limonene. Behavioral and electrophysiological assays showed that female mites could sense d-limonene and exhibit repellent behavior. However, repellent behavior of female mites to d-limonene disappeared after the knockdown of TuOBP-likes. Furthermore, microscale thermophoresis confirmed that the TuOBP-like3 recombinant protein could effectively bind to d-limonene (Kd = 0.022 μM). This suggests that the TuOBP-like3 protein is the odorant-binding protein involved in binding and transport of d-limonene in mites. Additionally, the disappearance of repellent behavior in mites following IR genes knockdown indicating that IRs were probably the olfactory receptors of mites mediating d-limonene olfaction. This study reveals a new peripheral olfactory pattern of plant volatile detection in arthropods, which is mediated by odorant-binding proteins plus ionotropic receptors. This differs from a widely known pattern of odorant-binding proteins plus odorant receptors in various insects. The study also contributes to understand the peripheral olfactory mechanisms of T.urticae and suggests the potential roles of TuOBP-like3 and TuIRs as targets for developing mite behavior regulators.
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