Cadmium exposure disrupts the olfactory sensitivity of fire ants to semiochemicals

Yang, Fuxiang; Shao, Rui; Zhao, Jing; Li, Lei; Wang, Man‐Qun; Zhou, Aiming

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117359

Cited by 7 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…The detailed procedures for protein function determination, including cDNA cloning, vector plasmid construction, recombinant protein expression and purification, and the binding affinity evaluation of SiOBPs, are respectively elaborated in Text S8, Text S9, and Text S10 based on previous studies. 27,37 Electrophysiological Responses in Cd-Contaminated S. invicta. Electroantennography (EAG) is an efficient technology to explore insect chemoreception mechanisms and screen the bioactive semiochemical components.…”

Section: ■ Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The differences in digging and residing preference of fire ants between chemicalloading and solvent-loading tubes were determined after introduction of ant workers for 24 h. The methods for evaluating the digging behavior and data collection were referenced to the previous study as described in Text S13. 27 Functional Analysis of SiOBP7 and SiOBP15. To determine the role of SiOBP7 and SiOBP15 in chemoreception, the behavioral response of fire ants to semiochemicals was evaluated after RNAi silencing of SiOBP7…”

Section: ■ Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The semiochemicals used in this assay were obtained from honeydew produced by sugar cane aphids Melanaphis sacchari that could attract fire ant workers (unpublished data) and one alkaloid, 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (TMP), from the pink-spotted lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata . 2,4,6-Trimethylpyridine had been found to have strong electrophysiological and behavioral activities with fire ant workers in our previous studies. , Ant workers from colonies without Cd exposure were used for RNA extraction. The detailed procedures for protein function determination, including cDNA cloning, vector plasmid construction, recombinant protein expression and purification, and the binding affinity evaluation of SiOBPs, are respectively elaborated in Text S8, Text S9, and Text S10 based on previous studies. , …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2,4,6-Trimethylpyridine had been found to have strong electrophysiological and behavioral activities with fire ant workers in our previous studies. , Ant workers from colonies without Cd exposure were used for RNA extraction. The detailed procedures for protein function determination, including cDNA cloning, vector plasmid construction, recombinant protein expression and purification, and the binding affinity evaluation of SiOBPs, are respectively elaborated in Text S8, Text S9, and Text S10 based on previous studies. , …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, Cd exposure at different concentrations induced the diverse expression patterns of SiOBPs in the antenna of fire ants. 27 Similarly, Cu exposure changed the expression patterns of olfactory marker proteins and miRNAs involved in olfactory signal transduction in zebrafish, 19,20 suggesting complex variations in chemosensory perception of fish to odorants with exposure to heavy metal contamination. Currently, most studies are focused on the olfactory toxicity and the transcriptional alteration of olfactory markers evoked by short-term metal exposure.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sublethal Exposure to Cadmium Induces Chemosensory Dysfunction in Fire Ants

Yang

Zhang

Liu

et al. 2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Ants easily accumulate cadmium (Cd) from the food web in terrestrial ecosystems. Cd contamination may cause olfactory dysfunction and consequently disorders in the social behavior of ants. To explore the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of Cd exposure on the chemosensory process of ants, we characterized the Cd-induced variations in the expression of genes involved in chemoreception and electrophysiological and behavioral sensitivity to semiochemicals by using the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, as a model system. As a result, Cd exposure increased Cd accumulation and decreased the survival rate of S. invicta. Cd exposure altered the expression profiles of odor binding protein genes of S. invicta (SiOBPs). Specifically, SiOBP15 protein expression was upregulated upon Cd exposure. Both SiOBP7 and SiOBP15 exhibited high binding affinities to limonene, nonanal, and 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine. S. invicta exposed to Cd showed less sensitive electrophysiological and behavioral response to the three chemicals but exhibited sensitive perception to undecane. Silencing of SiOBP7 and SiOBP15 abolished the behavioral response of S. invicta to nonanal and undecane, respectively, suggesting that SiOBP7 and SiOBP15 play essential roles in the chemoreception of S. invicta. In general, our results suggest that Cd contamination may interfere with olfactory signal transduction by altering the expression of SiOBPs, consequently evoking chemosensory dysfunction in fire ants.

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Section: ■ Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: ■ Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%