A Novl Family of Divergent Seven-Transmembrane Proteins Candidate Odorant Receptors in Drosophila.docVIP

A Novel Family of Divergent Seven-Transmembrane Proteins: Candidate Odorant Receptors in Drosophila 分散的七跨膜蛋白中的一个新家族：果蝇中的候选气味受体 Summary Although insects have proven to be valuable models for exploring the function, organization, and development of the olfactory system, the receptor molecules that bind odors have not been identified in any insect. We have developed a novel search algorithm, used it to search the Drosophila genomic sequence database, and identified a large multigene family encoding seven transmembrane domain proteins that are expressed in olfactory organs. We show that expression is restricted to subsets of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) for a number of these genes. Different members of the family initiate expression at different times during antennal development. Some of the genes are not expressed in a mutant of the Acj6 POU-domain transcription factor, a mutant in which a subset of ORNs show abnormal odorant specificities. 摘要 尽管昆虫被认为是一种探索功能、组织和嗅觉系统发展的有价值的模型，但是依附于气味的受体分子仍然没有在任何昆虫中被鉴定出来。我们已经研发了一种新的搜索算法，用它来搜索果蝇的基因组数据库，而且我们已经鉴定出了一个大型的多基因家族，这个基因家族编码表达于嗅觉器官的七个跨膜区蛋白。我们说明蛋白质的表达有很多受限于嗅觉感觉神经元（ORNs）的子集。这些子集中的不同成员最早表达的时间位于触角生长的不同时期。子集中的一些基因在突变体Acj6POU域的转录因子中并不表达，ORNs子集中的一种突变体显示出不寻常的气味特异性。 Introduction Animals can detect a vast array of odors with remarkable sensitivity and discrimination. Olfactory information is first received by olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), which transmit signals into the CNS where they are processed, ultimately leading to behavioral responses. An enormous amount of investigation into olfactory function, organization, and development has been carried out in insect model systems for many years (Kaissling, 1987; Hildebrand, 1995). However, a number of central questions have been refractory to incisive analysis because the receptor molecules to which odor molecules bind have not been identified in any insect. 前言 动物可以探测到大量的气味，并且在这方面有卓越的敏感性和辨识力。嗅觉信息最早呗嗅觉感觉神经元（ORNs）接收，之后由嗅觉感觉神经元将信号传导CNS，在这里，嗅觉信息被加工，并最终导致行为反应。关于嗅觉功能、组织的调查已经有很多，而且在昆虫模型系统