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BMC Biol

Title:		"A carboxylesterase, Esterase-6, modulates sensory physiological and behavioral response dynamics to pheromone in Drosophila"
Author(s):		Chertemps T; Francois A; Durand N; Rosell G; Dekker T; Lucas P; Maibeche-Coisne M;
Address:		"Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR, Physiologie de l'Insecte, Signalisation et Communication, Paris, France"
Journal Title:		BMC Biol
Year:		2012
Volume:		20120621
Issue:
Page Number:		56 -
DOI:		10.1186/1741-7007-10-56
ISSN/ISBN:		1741-7007 (Electronic) 1741-7007 (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND: Insects respond to the spatial and temporal dynamics of a pheromone plume, which implies not only a strong response to 'odor on', but also to 'odor off'. This requires mechanisms geared toward a fast signal termination. Several mechanisms may contribute to signal termination, among which odorant-degrading enzymes. These enzymes putatively play a role in signal dynamics by a rapid inactivation of odorants in the vicinity of the sensory receptors, although direct in vivo experimental evidences are lacking. Here we verified the role of an extracellular carboxylesterase, esterase-6 (Est-6), in the sensory physiological and behavioral dynamics of Drosophila melanogaster response to its pheromone, cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA). Est-6 was previously linked to post-mating effects in the reproductive system of females. As Est-6 is also known to hydrolyze cVA in vitro and is expressed in the main olfactory organ, the antenna, we tested here its role in olfaction as a putative odorant-degrading enzyme. RESULTS: We first confirm that Est-6 is highly expressed in olfactory sensilla, including cVA-sensitive sensilla, and we show that expression is likely associated with non-neuronal cells. Our electrophysiological approaches show that the dynamics of olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) responses is strongly influenced by Est-6, as in Est-6 degrees null mutants (lacking the Est-6 gene) cVA-sensitive ORN showed increased firing rate and prolonged activity in response to cVA. Est-6 degrees mutant males had a lower threshold of behavioral response to cVA, as revealed by the analysis of two cVA-induced behaviors. In particular, mutant males exhibited a strong decrease of male-male courtship, in association with a delay in courtship initiation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study presents evidence that Est-6 plays a role in the physiological and behavioral dynamics of sex pheromone response in Drosophila males and supports a role of Est-6 as an odorant-degrading enzyme (ODE) in male antennae. Our results also expand the role of Est-6 in Drosophila biology, from reproduction to olfaction, and highlight the role of ODEs in insect olfaction"
Keywords:		"Acetates/pharmacology Aggression/drug effects Animals Arthropod Antennae/enzymology Behavior, Animal/*drug effects Carboxylesterase/*metabolism Courtship Drosophila Proteins/*metabolism Drosophila melanogaster/drug effects/*enzymology/*physiology Female F;"
Notes:		"MedlineChertemps, Thomas Francois, Adrien Durand, Nicolas Rosell, Gloria Dekker, Teun Lucas, Philippe Maibeche-Coisne, Martine eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2012/06/22 BMC Biol. 2012 Jun 21; 10:56. doi: 10.1186/1741-7007-10-56"