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Ciba Found Symp

Title:		Genetic and molecular studies of olfaction in Drosophila
Author(s):		Hekmat-Scafe DS; Carlson JR;
Address:		"Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA"
Journal Title:		Ciba Found Symp
Year:		1996
Volume:		200
Issue:
Page Number:		285 - 296
DOI:		10.1002/9780470514948.ch20
ISSN/ISBN:		0300-5208 (Print) 0300-5208 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Drosophila melanogaster, an insect amenable to convenient molecular and genetic manipulation, has a highly sensitive olfactory system. A number of Drosophila olfactory mutants have been isolated and characterized. The smellblind mutant has a defect affecting a voltage-gated Na+ channel. The norpA mutant, defective in a phospholipase C, has a reduced response to odorants in one type of olfactory organ, providing genetic evidence for use of the inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate signal transduction pathway in olfaction. Since the norpA gene is also required for phototransduction, this work demonstrates overlap in the molecular genetic basis of vision and olfaction. Interestingly, genetic analysis indicates that some olfactory information flows through a pathway which does not depend on norpA. Some mutants, such as ptg, acj6 and Sco, show odorant specificity, in the sense that some odorant responses are greatly reduced, whereas others are little affected, if at all. Some, but not all, mutations affect both larval and adult olfactory responses. Two tightly-linked Drosophila genes encode homologues of moth pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs). Genetic analysis may help determine whether PBPs facilitate transit of pheromones to or from olfactory receptor neurons. Information from Drosophila could be useful in designing means of controlling mosquitoes. It may also be possible to study olfactory genes, such as those encoding PBPs, from other insects by mutating them, introducing them into Drosophila and analysing their function in vivo"
Keywords:		Amino Acid Sequence Animals Carrier Proteins/metabolism Drosophila melanogaster/*genetics/physiology Insect Hormones/metabolism Larva Molecular Sequence Data Olfaction Disorders/genetics Olfactory Pathways/physiology Pheromones/metabolism Smell/*genetics;
Notes:		"MedlineHekmat-Scafe, D S Carlson, J R eng DC00139/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R01 DC 02174-10/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review Netherlands 1996/01/01 Ciba Found Symp. 1996; 200:285-96; discussion 296-301. doi: 10.1002/9780470514948.ch20"