A photoaffinity-labeled green leaf volatile compound 'tricks' highly selective and sensitive insect olfactory receptor neurons

Citation
Aa. Nikonov et al., A photoaffinity-labeled green leaf volatile compound 'tricks' highly selective and sensitive insect olfactory receptor neurons, CHEM SENSE, 26(1), 2001, pp. 49-54
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary,"Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
CHEMICAL SENSES
ISSN journal
0379864X → ACNP
Volume
26
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
49 - 54
Database
ISI
SICI code
0379-864X(200101)26:1<49:APGLVC>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
The sex pheromone of the scarab beetle, Phyllopertha diversa, is emitted by females and specifically detected by olfactory receptor neurons in the mal e and female antennae. Single sensillum recordings showed that, in contrast to the less sensitive pheromone sensilla in females, olfactory receptor ne urons in the male antennae had a low threshold (1 ng), which rivals those o f moths. The male and female antennae also possessed olfactory receptor neu rons specific for the detection of floral and green leaf volatile compounds . Detectors for the green leaf volatile (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate had a thresho ld (10 pg) far below the sensitivity of the pheromone-detecting machinery. In addition, these neurons showed a remarkable selectivity even when challe nged with related compounds at 10 000-fold higher concentrations. Surprisin gly, a diazo analog, (Z)-3-hexenyl diazoacetate, elicited slightly higher n ervous activity than the natural ligand in the neurons specific and selecti ve for (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate. The inability of the green leaf volatile-dete cting machinery to discriminate the photoaffinity-labeled compound from the natural product indicates that the synthetic ligand interacts with odorant -binding protein, odorant receptor and odorant-degrading enzyme as does the cognate ligand.