| Title: | Drosophila CheB proteins involved in gustatory detection of pheromones are related to a human neurodegeneration factor |
| Address: | "Department of Genetics and Neuroscience Center, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/S0083-6729(10)83011-0 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0083-6729 (Print) 0083-6729 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The Drosophila CheBs proteins are expressed in a variety of sexually dimorphic subsets of taste hairs, some of which have been directly implicated in pheromone detection. Their remarkable collection of expression patterns suggests that CheBs have specialized roles in gustatory detection of pheromones. Indeed, mutations in the CheB42a gene specifically alter male response to female-specific cuticular hydrocarbons. Furthermore, CheBs belong to the large ML (MD-2-like) superfamily of lipid-binding proteins and share amino acids with an essential role in the function of human GM2-activator protein (GM2-AP), a protein whose absence results in neurodegeneration and death. As GM2-AP binds specifically to the GM2 ganglioside, we have proposed that CheB42a and other CheBs function by interacting directly with the lipid-like cuticular hydrocarbons of Drosophila melanogaster and modulating their detection by transmembrane receptors. Here I review the current knowledge of the CheB family and discuss possible models for their function" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Drosophila/*physiology Drosophila Proteins/*chemistry/physiology Female G(M2) Activator Protein/*chemistry/physiology Humans Male Pheromones/*metabolism Receptors, Pheromone/*chemistry/physiology Sequence Homology, Amino Acid;neuroscience;" |
| Notes: | "MedlinePikielny, Claudio W eng 76200-560801/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/ R01DC007911/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R01DC04284/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Comparative Study Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review 2010/09/14 Vitam Horm. 2010; 83:273-87. doi: 10.1016/S0083-6729(10)83011-0" |
