昆虫气味受体的分子进化与信号转导的研究进展

昆虫气味受体(Odorant receptors, Or)基因家族的分子演变与其对环境的生态适应性密切相关,在昆虫的生存和种族繁衍及躲避敌害中起着重要作用。Or基因展现出多种进化模式,有基因结构的变化、染色体位置的变化和复制变化,通过这些变化获得或失去某种功能,以适应生态环境变化。昆虫气味受体的拓扑学证明,它是与典型的G-蛋白耦联受体(哺乳类气味受体)反向的跨膜分布,通过特殊的离子门控通道和环核苷酸激活的非选择性离子通道,将气味分子信号传递到嗅觉感受器内嗅觉神经元,从而对气味作出简单、快速而有效的反应。

Research Advances on Molecular Evolution and Signal Transduction of Odorant Receptor of Insects

Odorant receptors (Or) is of vital importance for insects to find food,identity mates,and avoid dangers. The evolution of odorant receptor family genes is closely related with the adaption to the different environment. Or gene shows multimodal molecular evolution patterns with changes in their genic structure,chromosomal position and duplication. By these evolutions insect can gain new functions or loss some functions. Membrane topology of Or83 shows an inverted orientation with the G-protein-coupled receptor. Or transduce odorant signal by both heteromeric ligand-gated ion channels and cyclic-nucleotide-activated cation channels,therefore,they can response rapidly,transiently,sensitively and efficiently to odorant.