A Proteomic Investigation of Soluble Olfactory Proteins in Anopheles gambiae

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are small soluble polypeptides that bind semiochemicals in the lymph of insect chemosensilla. In the genome of Anopheles gambiae, 66 genes encode OBPs and 8 encode CSPs. Here we monitored their expression through classical proteomics (2D gel-MS analysis) and a shotgun approach. The latter method proved much more sensitive and therefore more suitable for tiny biological samples as mosquitoes antennae and eggs. Females express a larger number and higher quantities of OBPs in their antennae than males (24 vs 19). OBP9 is the most abundant in the antennae of both sexes, as well as in larvae, pupae and eggs. Of the 8 CSPs, 4 were detected in antennae, while SAP3 was the only one expressed in larvae. Our proteomic results are in fairly good agreement with data of RNA expression reported in the literature, except for OBP4 and OBP5, that we could not identify in our analysis, nor could we detect in Western Blot experiments. The relatively limited number of soluble olfactory proteins expressed at relatively high levels in mosquitoes makes further studies on the coding of chemical messages at the OBP level more accessible, providing for few specific targets. Identification of such proteins in Anopheles gambiae might facilitate future studies on host finding behavior in this important disease vector.     

桃小食心虫成虫期高表达气味结合蛋白基因的克隆与表达谱分析

【目的】桃小食心虫Carposina sasakii是我国北方落叶果树的重要蛀果害虫,一旦幼虫蛀入果内,便会对果实的品质产生影响。成虫期是控制此害虫发生为害的关键时期。气味结合蛋白(odorant binding protein, OBP)作为昆虫嗅觉感受系统中与气味分子结合的重要气味运转蛋白,在成虫寄主植物定位及交配行为中具有重要作用。本研究对桃小食心虫气味结合蛋白基因进行克隆、鉴定和成虫组织表达分析,以期为OBPs在桃小食心虫嗅觉感受过程中的功能研究奠定基础。【方法】基于前期获得的桃小食心虫转录组测序数据,选择在其雌雄成虫触角中相对高表达的5个OBP基因(CsasOBP7, CsasOBP12, CsasOBP15, CsasOBP19和CsasOBP21)。采用RACE技术克隆出这5个OBP基因cDNA全长序列,进行生物信息学分析;通过qRT-PCR技术检测这5个OBP基因在桃小食心虫不同发育阶段(1和5日龄卵、初孵幼虫、老熟幼虫和蛹)以及在刚羽化、交配高峰期的和交配后6 h的雌雄成虫不同组织［触角、头(不含触角)、胸、腹、足和翅］中表达量。【结果】获得桃小食心虫5个OBP基因CsasOBP7, CsasOBP12, CsasOBP15, CsasOBP19和CsasOBP21的全长cDNA序列(GenBank登录号: MZ476786-MZ476790)。其中CsasOBP19为一段C端不完整的Minus-C OBP,其余均属于完整的Classical OBPs,且均含有信号肽。系统发育分析表明,在桃小食心虫5个CsasOBPs中, CsasOBP7和CsasOBP19的亲缘关系最近。qRT-PCR结果表明,CsasOBP7和CsasOBP19均在桃小食心虫蛹期高表达,而CsasOBP12, CsasOBP15和CsasOBP21均在卵期高表达。从桃小食心虫成虫刚羽化、交配高峰直至交配后6 h,5个CsasOBP基因表达量总体呈下降趋势。在成虫刚羽化时,这5个CsasOBP基因在各组织中均有表达,且主要在雄虫组织中高表达;在成虫交配高峰期,这5个CsasOBP基因在雄虫触角中高表达,特别是CsasOBP7和CsasOBP15只在雄虫触角中特异性表达;在成虫交配后6 h,每个CsasOBP基因只特异性地高表达于1或2个组织中。【结论】桃小食心虫的这5个CsasOBP基因在成虫交配高峰期雄虫触角中高表达,意味着这些CsasOBP基因可能在雄虫寻找雌虫过程中发挥着重要作用。     

绿豆象气味结合蛋白基因的克隆及表达分析

【目的】对绿豆象Callosobruchus chinensis气味结合蛋白(odorant binding proteins, OBPs)基因进行克隆、鉴定和组织表达分析,为研究OBPs在绿豆象嗅觉感受过程中的功能奠定基础。【方法】基于绿豆象触角转录组数据,通过RT-PCR克隆绿豆象6个OBP基因并进行生物信息学分析;通过qRT-PCR分析OBP基因在绿豆象雌雄成虫头(不含触角)、触角、腹、足和翅各组织中的表达情况。【结果】获得了6个绿豆象OBP基因的开放阅读框,命名为CchiOBP1-CchiOBP6(GenBank登录号: MN832700-MN832703, MN901841-MN901842);CchiOBP5为一段C端不完整的Minus-C OBP,其余均属于完整的Classical OBPs,预测6个CchiOBPs均含有信号肽。系统发育分析表明CchiOBP1, CchiOBP2和CchiOBP5与叶甲科(Chrysomelidae)昆虫OBPs的亲缘关系较近,CchiOBP3, CchiOBP4和CchiOBP6与天牛科(Cerambycidae)昆虫OBPs的亲缘关系较近。qRT-PCR结果表明,6个CchiOBPs基因在绿豆象成虫的触角、头(不含触角)、腹、翅和足部均有不同的表达量,CchiOBP1-4和CchiOBP6在雌雄成虫触角中均呈现高表达,且极显著高于在其他组织中的。CchiOBP5在雌成虫触角和头部(不含触角)中呈现高表达,但在雄成虫中表现为在足部的表达量显著高于在其他组织中的,在触角中的表达量最低。【结论】确定了绿豆象6个CchiOBPs基因的核苷酸和氨基酸序列组成,其中有5个CchiOBPs基因在绿豆象雌雄成虫触角中高表达,推测其在绿豆象嗅觉识别寄主植物过程中发挥重要作用。     

二化螟Minus-C气味结合蛋白的分子克隆及功能鉴定

气味结合蛋白（odorant binding proteins, OBPs）在昆虫对寄主气味的感受中起重要作用, 但有关Minus-C OBP及其功能的报道很少。本研究通过基因组数据分析并利用RACE技术, 克隆和鉴定了二化螟Chilo suppressalis (Walker)的一个Minus-C OBP基因, 命名为CsupOBP1（GenBank登录号： KC492498）。CsupOBP1基因的开放阅读框长423 bp, 编码141个氨基酸, 其中N端的18个氨基酸为预测的信号肽序列, 成熟蛋白序列中具有4个保守的半胱氨酸位点。实时定量PCR分析显示, 该基因在幼虫头部及成虫雌雄足、 翅和雄性触角等化感组织中高表达, 其中在雄虫触角内的表达量显著高于雌虫触角。利用荧光竞争结合实验对CsupOBP1重组蛋白与38种化合物的结合特性的测定表明, 重组CsupOBP1与β 紫罗兰酮的结合能力最强（Ki=9.53 μmol/L）。触角电位测定表明, 二化螟成虫可对β-紫罗兰酮产生显著的触角电生理反应, 但雄虫反应明显强于雌虫, 与结合试验及雄虫触角中CsupOBP1的表达量显著高于雌虫触角的测定结果相一致。鉴于β-紫罗兰酮是水稻等植物中普遍存在的一种芳香气味组分, 推测CsupOBP1可能通过对该气味的结合和运输, 从而在二化螟对寄主植物的嗅觉定向中起作用。     

Molecular and functional characterization of three odorant binding proteins from the oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricide)

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) act in recognizing odor molecules and their most well‐studied functions are transporting odors across the sensillum lymph to olfactory receptor neurons within the insect antennal sensillum. The adults of Grapholita molesta highly depend on olfactory cues in locating host plants and selecting oviposition sites, in which OBPs play an important role in perceiving and recognizing host plant volatiles. Exploring the physiological function of OBPs could facilitate our understanding of their importance in insects’ chemical communication. In this study, three OBP genes were cloned and named GmolOBP4, GmolOBP5, and GmolOBP10. Quantitative real‐time PCR results indicated that GmolOBP4 and GmolOBP10 were predominantly expressed in adult antennae and GmolOBP5 was expressed in multiple tissues, including head, legs, and wings in addition to antennae. The binding affinities of the three recombinant GmolOBPs (rGmolOBPs) with four sex pheromone components and twenty‐nine host plant volatiles were measured using 1‐N‐Phenyl‐naphthylamine as a fluorescence probe. The three rGmolOBPs exhibited specific binding properties to potential ligands, GmolOBP4 and GmolOBP10 bound to minor sex pheromone components, such as (Z)‐8‐dodecenyl alcohol and dodecanol, respectively. rGmolOBP4 showed intermediate binding ability with hexanal, benzyl alcohol, and pear ester, rGmolOBP5 had a weak affinity for benzaldehyde, pear ester and, methyl jasmonate, and rGmolOBP10 showed strong binding capacity toward hexanol, decanol, and α‐ocimene. We speculate that the GmolOBP4 and GmolOBP10 have dual functions in perception and recognition of host plant volatiles and sex pheromone components, while GmolOBP5 may serve other function(s).     

Expression pattern analysis of odorant‐binding proteins in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum

Odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) are soluble proteins mediating chemoreception in insects. In previous research, we investigated the molecular mechanisms adopted by aphids to detect the alarm pheromone (E)‐β‐farnesene and we found that the recognition of this and structurally related molecules is mediated by OBP3 and OBP7. Here, we show the differential expression patterns of 5 selected OBPs (OBP1, OBP3, OBP6, OBP7, OBP8) obtained performing quantitative RT‐PCR and immunolocalization experiments in different body parts of adults and in the 5 developmental instars, including winged and unwinged morphs, of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. The results provide an overall picture that allows us to speculate on the relationship between the differential expression of OBPs and their putative function. The expression of OBP3, OBP6, and OBP7 in the antennal sensilla suggests a chemosensory function for these proteins, whereas the constant expression level of OBP8 in all instars could suggest a conserved role. Moreover, OBP1 and OBP3 are also expressed in nonsensory organs. A light and scanning electron microscopy study of sensilla on different body parts of aphid, in particular antennae, legs, mouthparts, and cornicles‐cauda, completes this research providing a guide to facilitate the mapping of OBP expression profiles.     

Cover Caption

Cotesia vestalis has been used as a good biological control agent for management the pest of global cruciferous plants, Plutella xylostella. The successful parasitization strictly relies on C. vestalis olfactory perception, and odorant binding protein (OBP) play a key role in searching for hosts (see pages 1354-1368). The cover photo shows C. vestalis is parasitizing the host with the help of three OBP genes expressed in C. vestalis antennae for locating P. xylostalla larva. Photo provided by Xi-Qian Ye.