Evolution of gustatory sensitivity in Yponomeuta caterpillars: sensitivityto the stereo-isomers dulcitol and sorbitol is localised in a single sensory cell
P. Roessingh et al., Evolution of gustatory sensitivity in Yponomeuta caterpillars: sensitivityto the stereo-isomers dulcitol and sorbitol is localised in a single sensory cell, J COMP PH A, 184(1), 1999, pp. 119-126
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Physiology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
The cellular localisation of the sensitivity to two host-plant specific lar
val phagostimulants was determined in Yponomeuta evonymellus and in inter-s
pecific hybrids of Y, cagnagellus and Y. padellus. The combined results of
cross-adaptation experiments, analysis of mixture responses and inter-spike
interval distributions indicated that the sensitivity for sorbitol and dul
citol is localised in the same cell in the investigated species. This resul
t suggests that during the evolution of the genus the main alteration in th
e mechanism of sugar-alcohol detection occurred at the level of the recepto
r proteins, Relatively simple modification of this kind can, however, have
large effects, since larvae with modified receptor proteins will directly r
espond to the new stimulus while all central processing and resulting behav
iour can remain unmodified.