Genetic and molecular studies of olfaction in Drosophila

Drosophila melanogaster, an insect amenable to convenient molecular and genetic manipulation, has a highly sensitive olfactory system. A number of Drosophila olfactory mutants have been isolated and characterized. The smellblind mutant has a defect affecting a voltage-gated Na+ channel. The norpA mutant, defective in a phospholipase C, has a reduced response to odorants in one type of olfactory organ, providing genetic evidence for use of the inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate signal transduction pathway in olfaction. Since the norpA gene is also required for phototransduction, this work demonstrates overlap in the molecular genetic basis of vision and olfaction. Interestingly, genetic analysis indicates that some olfactory information flows through a pathway which does not depend on norpA. Some mutants, such as ptg, acj6 and Sco, show odorant specificity, in the sense that some odorant responses are greatly reduced, whereas others are little affected, if at all. Some, but not all, mutations affect both larval and adult olfactory responses. Two tightly-linked Drosophila genes encode homologues of moth pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs). Genetic analysis may help determine whether PBPs facilitate transit of pheromones to or from olfactory receptor neurons. Information from Drosophila could be useful in designing means of controlling mosquitoes. It may also be possible to study olfactory genes, such as those encoding PBPs, from other insects by mutating them, introducing them into Drosophila and analysing their function in vivo.