Stimulation of the labellar sugar receptor of the fleshfly by mono- and disaccharides

Responses of the labellar sugar receptor of the fleshfly, Boettcherisca peregrina, were studied over a wide range of concentrations of several sugars (sucrose, maltose, glucose, fructose, and mannose) in single solutions and in mixtures. The results suggest (a) that the receptor sites are not completely differentiated for glucose and for fructose combination, (b) that the receptor site is composed of two subunits. Such suggestions are based on the classical model, where the response is proportional to the number of the sites, two subunits of each site being simultaneously occupied with one molecule of disaccharides or two molecules of monosaccharides. It is shown, however, that an allosteric model gives a somewhat better interpretation of the experimental results.