Modulation of Sex Pheromone Discrimination by a UDP-Glycosyltransferase in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

The detection and processing of chemical stimuli involve coordinated neuronal networks that process sensory information. This allows animals, such as the model species Drosophila melanogaster, to detect food sources and to choose a potential mate. In peripheral olfactory tissues, several classes of proteins are acting to modulate the detection of chemosensory signals. This includes odorant-binding proteins together with odorant-degrading enzymes (ODEs). These enzymes, which primarily act to eliminate toxic compounds from the whole organism also modulate chemodetection. ODEs are thought to neutralize the stimulus molecule concurrently to its detection, avoiding receptor saturation thus allowing chemosensory neurons to respond to the next stimulus. Here, we show that one UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT36E1) expressed in D. melanogaster antennal olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) is involved in sex pheromone discrimination. UGT36E1 overexpression caused by an insertion mutation affected male behavioral ability to discriminate sex pheromones while it increased OSN electrophysiological activity to male pheromones. Reciprocally, the decreased expression of UGT36E1, controlled by an RNAi transgene, improved male ability to discriminate sex pheromones whereas it decreased electrophysiological activity in the relevant OSNs. When we combined the two genotypes (mutation and RNAi), we restored wild-type-like levels both for the behavioral discrimination and UGT36E1 expression. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that this UGT plays a pivotal role in Drosophila pheromonal detection.

Systematic analysis of olfactory protein–protein interactions network of fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster

“…For example, UGT201D3 was involved in the resistance of T. cinnabarinus to abamectin (M. Y. Wang et al, 2020) and UGT2B17 to chlorantraniliprole in P. xylostella (X. Li et al, 2017). And Fraichard et al (2020) found that DmelUGT36E1 was involved in sex pheromone discrimination. On this basis, we suggest that the analysis of D. melanogaster ODEs can start from GSTs and UGTs.…”

“…Li et al, 2017). And Fraichard et al (2020) found that DmelUGT36E1 was involved in sex pheromone discrimination. On this basis, we suggest that the analysis of D. melanogaster ODEs can start from GSTs and UGTs.…”

Male-Biased microRNA Discovery in the Pea Aphid

“…In insects, their roles in detoxifying plant defenses [45] and in olfaction are especially well studied [46]. Multiple UGTs have sex-biased expression in Drosophila [47], including one that has to be downregulated in male antennae to play its role in sex pheromone sensing [48]. Future studies could use dual-luciferase reporter assays to test for binding between the api-mir-3023 miRNA and this gene.…”

Revealing the mystery of persistent smell loss in long COVID patients

“…Although the cellular mechanism related to this locus is unknown, drosophila homologs for UGT1A1 and UGT2A2 are known to play an important role in olfactory functions. Reduced detection of pheromone and other functional defects were observed with tissue-specific mutations and RNAi-mediated knockdown of UGT1A1 and UGT2A2 [59].…”