Functional characterization and immunolocalization of odorant binding protein 1 in the lucerne plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus (GOEZE)

Abstract

In the insect phylum, the relationships between individuals and their environment are often modulated by chemical communication. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are widely and robustly expressed in insect olfactory organs and play a key role in chemosensing and transporting hydrophobic odorants across the sensillum lymph to the olfactory receptor neuron. In this study, a novel OBP gene (AlinOBP1) in the lucerne plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus was identified, cloned and expressed. Real-time PCR results indicated that the expression level of AlinOBP1 gene differed in each developmental stage (from first instar to adult) and was predominantly expressed in the antennae of adults. The expression level of AlinOBP1 was 1.91 times higher in male antennae than in female antennae. The binding properties of AlinOBP1 with 114 odorants were measured using a fluorescence probe, N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (1-NPN), with fluorescence competitive binding. The results revealed that AlinOBP1 exhibits high binding abilities with two major putative pheromone components, ethyl butyrate and trans-2-hexenyl butyrate. In addition, it was observed that six volatiles released from cotton, octanal, nonanal, decanal, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, b-caryophyllene and b-ionone also bind to AlinOBP1. Immunocytochemistry analysis showed that AlinOBP1 was expressed in the sensillum lymph of sensilla trichodica and sensilla basiconca. Our results demonstrate that AlinOBP1 may function as a carrier in the chemoperception of the lucerne plant bug. C 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Functional Characterization of Odorant Binding Protein 27 (RproOBP27) From Rhodnius prolixus Antennae

“…In the Lucerne plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus , expression of OBP1 is 1.91 times higher in male than in female antennae and this protein was shown to exhibit high binding affinity with two putative pheromone components (Gu et al, 2011b). Recent study suggested that OBP expression could be regulated by nutritional state.…”

Unique Features of Odorant-Binding Proteins of the Parasitoid Wasp Nasonia vitripennis Revealed by Genome Annotation and Comparative Analyses

“…Using the OBP sequence motif search [23], [26], [33], [39], homology searching [25], [41], [38], [42] and genomic sequence analyses [35], [30] we have annotated 90 genes encoding putative OBPs in N. vitripennis . This is the largest OBP gene family so far reported in insects and has allowed us to identify some of unique features and to be able to study evolution origin of these features.…”

Functional Characterizations of Chemosensory Proteins of the Alfalfa Plant Bug Adelphocoris lineolatus Indicate Their Involvement in Host Recognition

“…This plant bug and several other mirids are extremely herbivores and cause severe damage to many important crops such as beans, strawberries, peaches, cotton, and various seed crops each year [3]–[5]. These mirids are attracted to flowering plants especially cotton, alfalfa and mung bean [3], [4], [6]–[9], suggesting mirids use chemical information from these flowers to forage suitable hosts and find oviposition sites. Identification of attractant molecules and their interactions with olfactory proteins are meaningful for monitoring and mass-trapping these mirids and other insect pest [10], [11].…”