Overexpression of olfactory receptor 78 ameliorates brain injury in cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion rats by activating Prkaca-mediated cAMP/PKA-MAPK pathway.

Ischemic stroke is one of the main causes of disability and death. However, recanalization of occluded cerebral arteries is effective only within a very narrow time window. Therefore, it is particularly important to find neuroprotective biological targets for cerebral artery recanalization. Here, gene expression profiles of datasets GSE160500 and GSE97537 were downloaded from the GEO database, which were related to ischemic stroke in rats. Olfactory receptor 78 (Olfr78) was screened, and which highly associated with Calcium signalling pathway and MAPK pathway. Interacting protein of Olfr78, Prkaca, was predicted by STRING, and their interaction was validated by Co-IP analysis. Then, a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) and a neuronal cell model stimulated by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) were constructed, and the results showed that expression of Olfr78 and Prkaca was downregulated in MCAO rats and OGD/R-stimulated neurons. Overexpression of Olfr78 or Prkaca inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors, Ca2+ overload, and OGD/R-induced neuronal apoptosis. Moreover, Overexpression of Prkaca increased protein levels of cAMP, PKA and phosphorylated p38 in OGD/R-stimulated neurons, while SB203580, a p38 inhibitor, treatment inhibited activation of the cAMP/PKA-MAPK pathway and counteracted the effect of Olfr78 overexpression on improvement of neuronal functions. Meanwhile, overexpression of Olfr78 or Prkaca markedly inhibited neuronal apoptosis and improved brain injury in MCAO/R rats. In conclusion, overexpression of Olfr78 inhibited Ca2+ overload and reduced neuronal apoptosis in MCAO/R rats by promoting Prkaca-mediated activation of the cAMP/PKA-MAPK pathway, thereby improving brain injury in cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion.

Orco-dependent survival of odorant receptor neurons in ants.

Olfaction is essential for complex social behavior in insects. To discriminate complex social cues, ants evolved an expanded number of odorant receptor (Or) genes. Mutations in the obligate odorant co-receptor gene orco lead to the loss of ~80% of the antennal lobe glomeruli in the jumping ant Harpegnathos saltator. However, the cellular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate massive apoptosis of odorant receptor neurons (ORNs) in the mid to late stages of pupal development, possibly due to ER stress in the absence of Orco. Further bulk and single-nucleus transcriptome analysis shows that, although most orco-expressing ORNs die in orco mutants, a small proportion of them survive: They express ionotropic receptor (Ir) genes that form IR complexes. In addition, we found that some Or genes are expressed in mechanosensory neurons and nonneuronal cells, possibly due to leaky regulation from nearby non-Or genes. Our findings provide a comprehensive overview of ORN development and Or expression in H. saltator.

Identification of candidate chemosensory genes in the antennal transcriptome of Monolepta signata.

In the polyphagous insect Monolepta signata (M. signata) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), antennae are important for olfactory reception used during feeding, mating, and finding a suitable oviposition site. Based on NextSeq 6000 Illumina sequencing, we assembled the antennal transcriptome of mated M. signata and described the first chemosensory gene repertoire expressed in this species. The relative expression levels of some significant chemosensory genes were conducted by quantitative real-time PCR. We identified 114 olfactory-related genes based on the antennal transcriptome database of M. signata, including 21 odorant binding proteins (OBPs), six chemosensory proteins (CSPs), 46 odorant receptors (ORs), 15 ionotropic receptors (IRs), 23 gustatory receptors (GRs) and three sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs). Blastp best hit and phylogenetic analyses showed that most of the chemosensory genes had a close relationship with orthologs from other Coleoptera species. Overall, this study provides a foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanism of olfactory recognition in M. signata as well as a reference for the study of chemosensory genes in other species of Coleoptera.

A pattern recognition artificial olfactory system based on human olfactory receptors and organic synaptic devices.

Neuromorphic sensors, designed to emulate natural sensory systems, hold the promise of revolutionizing data extraction by facilitating rapid and energy-efficient analysis of extensive datasets. However, a challenge lies in accurately distinguishing specific analytes within mixtures of chemically similar compounds using existing neuromorphic chemical sensors. In this study, we present an artificial olfactory system (AOS), developed through the integration of human olfactory receptors (hORs) and artificial synapses. This AOS is engineered by interfacing an hOR-functionalized extended gate with an organic synaptic device. The AOS generates distinct patterns for odorants and mixtures thereof, at the molecular chain length level, attributed to specific hOR-odorant binding affinities. This approach enables precise pattern recognition via training and inference simulations. These findings establish a foundation for the development of high-performance sensor platforms and artificial sensory systems, which are ideal for applications in wearable and implantable devices.

Genomic identification and evolutionary analysis of chemosensory receptor gene families in two Phthorimaea pest species: insights into chemical ecology and host adaptation.

BACKGROUND: Insects rely on sophisticated sensitive chemosensory systems to sense their complex chemical environment. This sensory process involves a combination of odorant receptors (ORs), gustatory receptors (GRs) and ionotropic receptors (IRs) in the chemosensory system. This study focused on the identification and characterization of these three types of chemosensory receptor genes in two closely related Phthorimaea pest species, Phthorimaea operculella (potato tuber moth) and Phthorimaea absoluta (tomato leaf miner). RESULTS: Based on manual annotation of the genome, we identified a total of 349 chemoreceptor genes from the genome of P. operculella, including 93 OR, 206 GR and 50 IR genes, while for P. absoluta, we identified 72 OR, 122 GR and 46 IR genes. Through phylogenetic analysis, we observed minimal differences in the number and types of ORs and IRs between the potato tuber moth and tomato leaf miner. In addition, we found that compared with those of tomato leaf miners, the gustatory receptor branch of P. operculella has undergone a large expansion, which may be related to P. absoluta having a narrower host range than P. operculella. Through analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of male and female antennae, we uncovered 45 DEGs (including 32ORs, 9 GRs, and 4 IRs). CONCLUSIONS: Our research provides a foundation for exploring the chemical ecology of these two pests and offers new insights into the dietary differentiation of lepidopteran insects, while simultaneously providing molecular targets for developing environmentally friendly pest control methods based on insect chemoreception.

Deorphanizing an odorant receptor tuned to palm tree volatile esters in the Asian palm weevil sheds light on the mechanisms of palm tree selection.

The Asian palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, is a tremendously important agricultural pest primarily adapted to palm trees and causes severe destruction, threatening sustainable palm cultivation worldwide. The host plant selection of this weevil is mainly attributed to the functional specialization of odorant receptors (ORs) that detect palm-derived volatiles. Yet, ligands are known for only two ORs of R. ferrugineus, and we still lack information on the mechanisms of palm tree detection. This study identified a highly expressed antennal R. ferrugineus OR, RferOR2, thanks to newly generated transcriptomic data. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that RferOR2 belongs to the major coleopteran OR group 2A and is closely related to a sister clade containing an R. ferrugineus OR (RferOR41) tuned to the non-host plant volatile and antagonist, α-pinene. Functional characterization of RferOR2 via heterologous expression in Drosophila olfactory neurons revealed that this receptor is tuned to several ecologically relevant palm-emitted odors, most notably ethyl and methyl ester compounds, but not to any of the pheromone compounds tested, including the R. ferrugineus aggregation pheromone. We did not evidence any differential expression of RferOR2 in the antennae of both sexes, suggesting males and females detect these compounds equally. Next, we used the newly identified RferOR2 ligands to demonstrate that including synthetic palm ester volatiles as single compounds and in combinations in pheromone-based mass trapping has a synergistic attractiveness effect to R. ferrugineus aggregation pheromone, resulting in significantly increased weevil catches. Our study identified a key OR from a palm weevil species tuned to several ecologically relevant palm volatiles and represents a significant step forward in understanding the chemosensory mechanisms of host detection in palm weevils. Our study also defines RferOR2 as an essential model for exploring the molecular basis of host detection in other palm weevil species. Finally, our work showed that insect OR deorphanization could aid in identifying novel behaviorally active volatiles that can interfere with weevil host-searching behavior in sustainable pest management applications.

Odorant receptors for floral- and plant-derived volatiles in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Adult mosquitoes require regular sugar meals, including nectar, to survive in natural habitats. Both males and females locate potential sugar sources using sensory proteins called odorant receptors (ORs) activated by plant volatiles to orient toward flowers or honeydew. The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762), possesses a large gene family of ORs, many of which are likely to detect floral odors. In this study, we have uncovered ligand-receptor pairings for a suite of Aedes aegypti ORs using a panel of environmentally relevant, plant-derived volatile chemicals and a heterologous expression system. Our results support the hypothesis that these odors mediate sensory responses to floral odors in the mosquito's central nervous system, thereby influencing appetitive or aversive behaviors. Further, these ORs are well conserved in other mosquitoes, suggesting they function similarly in diverse species. This information can be used to assess mosquito foraging behavior and develop novel control strategies, especially those that incorporate mosquito bait-and-kill technologies.

Candidate membrane protein gene families related to chemoreception in a wood-boring beetle, Pharsalia antennata Gahan (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

The longhorned beetles are key players for the maintenance of biodiversity in the terrestrial ecosystem. As xylophagous cerambycid insects in Coleoptera, the beetles have evolved specialized olfactory and gustatory systems to recognize chemical cues in the surrounding habitats. Despite over 36,000 described species in the Cerambycidae family including a wood-boring pest Pharsalia antennata, only a limited number of them (<1 %) have been characterized regarding their chemical ecology at the molecular level. Here, we surveyed four membrane protein gene families in P. antennata related to chemoreception through transcriptomics, phylogenetics and expression profiling analyses. In total, 144 genes encoding 72 odorant receptors (ORs), 33 gustatory receptors (GRs), 23 ionotropic receptors (IRs), four sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) and 12 ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) were harvested from the transcriptome of multiple tissues including antennae and legs of both sexes. The lineage-specific expansion of PantORs possibly implied a diverse range of host plants in this beetle, supporting this correlation between the host range and olfactory receptor repertoire sizes across cerambycid species. Further phylogenetic analysis revealed that Group 2 was contributed mainly to the large OR gene repertoire in P. antennata, representing 18 genes in Group 2A and eight in Group 2B. On the other hand, some key chemosensory genes were identified by applying a phylogenetics approach, such as PantOR21 close to the 2-phenylethanol receptor in Megacyllene caryae, three carbon dioxide GRs and seven Antennal IRs (A-IRs) clades. We also determined sex- and tissue-specific expression profiles of 69 chemosensory genes, revealing the high expression of most PantORs in antennae. Noticeably, 10 sex-biased genes (six PantORs, three PantIRs and PantSNMP1a) were presented in antennae, five sex-biased PantGRs in legs and 39 sex-biased genes (15 PantORs, 13 PantGRs, eight PantIRs and three PantSNMPs) in abdomens. These findings have greatly enhanced our knowledge about the chemical ecology of P. antennata and identify candidate molecular targets for mediating smell and taste of this beetle.

Spontaneous differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells to odorant-responsive olfactory sensory neurons.

Pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), can differentiate into almost all cell types and are anticipated to have significant applications in the field of regenerative medicine. However, there are no reports of successfully directing iPSCs to become functional olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) capable of selectively receiving odorant compounds. In this study, we employed dual SMAD inhibition and fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF-8, reported to dictate olfactory fates) along with N-2 and B-27 supplements in the culture medium to efficiently induce the differentiation of iPSCs into neuronal cells with olfactory function through olfactory placode. Temporal gene expression and expression of OSN-specific markers during differentiation indicated that the expression of olfactory marker proteins and various olfactory receptors (ORs), which are markers of mature OSNs, was observed after approximately one month of differentiation culture, irrespective of the differentiation cues, suggesting differentiation into OSNs. Cells that exhibited specific responses to odorant compounds were identified after administering odorant compounds to differentiated iPSC-derived OSNs. This suggests the spontaneous generation of functional OSNs expressing diverse ORs that respond to odorant compounds from iPSCs.

NAD activates olfactory receptor 1386 to regulate type I interferon responses in Plasmodium yoelii YM infection.

Olfactory receptors (Olfr) are G protein-coupled receptors that are normally expressed on olfactory sensory neurons to detect volatile chemicals or odorants. Interestingly, many Olfrs are also expressed in diverse tissues and function in cell-cell recognition, migration, and proliferation as well as immune responses and disease processes. Here, we showed that many Olfr genes were expressed in the mouse spleen, linked to Plasmodium yoelii genetic loci significantly, and/or had genome-wide patterns of LOD scores (GPLSs) similar to those of host Toll-like receptor genes. Expression of specific Olfr genes such as Olfr1386 in HEK293T cells significantly increased luciferase signals driven by IFN-ß and NF-κB promoters, with elevated levels of phosphorylated TBK1, IRF3, P38, and JNK. Mice without Olfr1386 were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 method, and the Olfr1386-/- mice showed significantly lower IFN-α/ß levels and longer survival than wild-type (WT) littermates after infection with P. yoelii YM parasites. Inhibition of G protein signaling and P38 activity could affect cyclic AMP-responsive element promoter-driven luciferase signals and IFN-ß mRNA levels in HEK293T cells expressing the Olfr1386 gene, respectively. Screening of malaria parasite metabolites identified nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) as a potential ligand for Olfr1386, and NAD could stimulate IFN-ß responses and phosphorylation of TBK1 and STAT1/2 in RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, parasite RNA (pRNA) could significantly increase Olfr1386 mRNA levels. This study links multiple Olfrs to host immune response pathways, identifies a candidate ligand for Olfr1386, and demonstrates the important roles of Olfr1386 in regulating type I interferon (IFN-I) responses during malaria parasite infections.

Exploring the binding affinity and characteristics of DcitOBP9 in citrus psyllids.

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are crucial in insect olfaction. The most abundant expressed OBP of citrus psyllids, DcitOBP9 encodes 148 amino acids. DcitOBP9 lacks a transmembrane structure and possesses a 17-amino acid signal peptide at the N-terminus. Characterized by the six conserved cysteine sites, DcitOBP9 is classified as the Classical-OBP family. RT-qPCR experiments revealed ubiquitous expression of DcitOBP9 across all developmental stages of the citrus psyllid, with predominant expression in adults antennae. Fluorescence competitive binding assays demonstrated DcitOBP9's strong affinity for ocimene, linalool, dodecanoic acid, and citral, and moderate affinity for dimethyl trisulfide. Additionally, it binds to myrcia, (-)-trans-caryophyllene, (±)-Citronellal, nonanal, and (+)-α-pinene. Among them, ocimene, linalool, and dodecanoic acid were dynamically bound to DcitOBP9, while citral was statically bound to DcitOBP9. Molecular docking simulations with the top five ligands indicated that amino acid residues V92, S72, P128, L91, L75, and A76 are pivotal in the interaction between DcitOBP9 and these odorants. These findings suggest DcitOBP9's involvement in the citrus psyllid's host plant recognition and selection behaviors, thereby laying a foundation for elucidating the potential physiological and biological functions of DcitOBP9 and developing attractants.

Carotid Body Function in Tyrosine Hydroxylase Conditional Olfr78 Knockout Mice.

The Olfr78 gene encodes a G-protein-coupled olfactory receptor that is expressed in several ectopic sites. Olfr78 is one of the most abundant mRNA species in carotid body (CB) glomus cells. These cells are the prototypical oxygen (O2) sensitive arterial chemoreceptors, which, in response to lowered O2 tension (hypoxia), activate the respiratory centers to induce hyperventilation. It has been proposed that Olfr78 is a lactate receptor and that glomus cell activation by the increase in blood lactate mediates the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR). However, this proposal has been challenged by several groups showing that Olfr78 is not a physiologically relevant lactate receptor and that the O2-based regulation of breathing is not affected in constitutive Olfr78 knockout mice. In another study, constitutive Olfr78 knockout mice were reported to have altered systemic and CB responses to mild hypoxia. To further characterize the functional role of Olfr78 in CB glomus cells, we here generated a conditional Olfr78 knockout mouse strain and then restricted the knockout to glomus cells and other catecholaminergic cells by crossing with a tyrosine hydroxylase-specific Cre driver strain (TH-Olfr78 KO mice). We find that TH-Olfr78 KO mice have a normal HVR. Interestingly, glomus cells of TH-Olfr78 KO mice exhibit molecular and electrophysiological alterations as well as a reduced dopamine content in secretory vesicles and neurosecretory activity. These functional characteristics resemble those of CB neuroblasts in wild-type mice. We suggest that, although Olfr78 is not essential for CB O2 sensing, activation of Olfr78-dependent pathways is required for maturation of glomus cells.

Establishment and maintenance of random monoallelic expression.

This Review elucidates the regulatory principles of random monoallelic expression by focusing on two well-studied examples: the X-chromosome inactivation regulator Xist and the olfactory receptor gene family. Although the choice of a single X chromosome or olfactory receptor occurs in different developmental contexts, common gene regulatory principles guide monoallelic expression in both systems. In both cases, an event breaks the symmetry between genetically and epigenetically identical copies of the gene, leading to the expression of one single random allele, stabilized through negative feedback control. Although many regulatory steps that govern the establishment and maintenance of monoallelic expression have been identified, key pieces of the puzzle are still missing. We provide an overview of the current knowledge and models for the monoallelic expression of Xist and olfactory receptors. We discuss their similarities and differences, and highlight open questions and approaches that could guide the study of other monoallelically expressed genes.

Antenna-Biased Odorant Receptor PstrOR17 Mediates Attraction of Phyllotreta striolata to (S)-Cis-Verbenol and (-)-Verbenone.

Phyllotreta striolata, the striped flea beetle, is one of the most destructive pests in Brassicaceae plants worldwide. Given the drawbacks associated with long-term use of chemical insecticides, green strategies based on chemical ecology are an effective alternative for beetle control. However, the lack of information on beetle ecology has hindered the development of effective biocontrol strategies. In this report, we identified two odorants, (S)-cis-verbenol and (-)-verbenone, which displayed significant attraction for P. striolata (p < 0.05), indicating their great potential for P. striolata management. Using the Drosophila "empty neuron" system, an antenna-biased odorant receptor, PstrOR17, was identified as responsible for the detection of (-)-verbenone and (S)-cis-verbenol. Furthermore, the interactions between PstrOR17 and (-)-verbenone or (S)-cis-verbenol were predicted via modeling and molecular docking. Finally, we used RNAi to confirm that PstrOR17 is essential for the detection of (-)-verbenone and (S)-cis-verbenol to elicit an attraction effect. Our results not only lay a foundation for the development of new and effective nonchemical insecticide strategies based on (S)-cis-verbenol and (-)-verbenone, but also provide new insight into the molecular basis of odorant recognition in P. striolata.

A cilia-bound unconventional secretory pathway for Drosophila odorant receptors.

BACKGROUND: Post-translational transport is a vital process which ensures that each protein reaches its site of function. Though most do so via an ordered ER-to-Golgi route, an increasing number of proteins are now shown to bypass this conventional secretory pathway. RESULTS: In the Drosophila olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), odorant receptors (ORs) are trafficked from the ER towards the cilia. Here, we show that Or22a, a receptor of various esters and alcoholic compounds, reaches the cilia partially through unconventional means. Or22a frequently present as puncta at the somatic cell body exit and within the dendrite prior to the cilia base. These rarely coincide with markers of either the intermediary ER-Golgi-intermediate-compartment (ERGIC) or Golgi structures. ERGIC and Golgi also displayed axonal localization biases, a further indication that at least some measure of OR transport may occur independently of their involvement. Additionally, neither the loss of several COPII genes involved in anterograde trafficking nor ERGIC itself affected puncta formation or Or22a transport to the cilium. Instead, we observed the consistent colocalization of Or22a puncta with Grasp65, the sole Drosophila homolog of mammalian GRASP55/Grh1, a marker of the unconventional pathway. The numbers of both Or22a and Grasp65-positive puncta were furthermore increased upon nutritional starvation, a condition known to enhance Golgi-bypassing secretory activity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate an alternative route of Or22a transport, thus expanding the repertoire of unconventional secretion mechanisms in neurons.

Localized Expression of Olfactory Receptor Genes in the Olfactory Organ of Common Minke Whales.

Baleen whales (Mysticeti) possess the necessary anatomical structures and genetic elements for olfaction. Nevertheless, the olfactory receptor gene (OR) repertoire has undergone substantial degeneration in the cetacean lineage following the divergence of the Artiodactyla and Cetacea. The functionality of highly degenerated mysticete ORs within their olfactory epithelium remains unknown. In this study, we extracted total RNA from the nasal mucosae of common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) to investigate ORs' localized expression. All three sections of the mucosae examined in the nasal chamber displayed comparable histological structure. However, the posterior portion of the frontoturbinal region exhibited notably high OR expression. Neither the olfactory bulb nor the external skin exhibited the expression of these genes. Although this species possesses four intact non-class-2 ORs, all the ORs expressed in the nasal mucosae belong to class-2, implying the loss of aversion to specific odorants. These anatomical and genomic analyses suggest that ORs are still responsible for olfaction within the nasal region of baleen whales, enabling them to detect desirable scents such as prey and potential mating partners.

MXene/Hydrogel-based bioelectronic nose for the direct evaluation of food spoilage in both liquid and gas-phase environments.

Various bioelectronic noses have been recently developed for mimicking human olfactory systems. However, achieving direct monitoring of gas-phase molecules remains a challenge for the development of bioelectronic noses due to the instability of receptor and the limitations of its surrounding microenvironment. Here, we report a MXene/hydrogel-based bioelectronic nose for the sensitive detection of liquid and gaseous hexanal, a signature odorant from spoiled food. In this study, a conducting MXene/hydrogel structure was formed on a sensor via physical adsorption. Then, canine olfactory receptor 5269-embedded nanodiscs (cfOR5269NDs) which could selectively recognize hexanal molecules were embedded in the three-dimensional (3D) MXene/hydrogel structures using glutaraldehyde as a linker. Our MXene/hydrogel-based bioelectronic nose exhibited a high selectivity and sensitivity for monitoring hexanal in both liquid and gas phases. The bioelectronic noses could sensitively detect liquid and gaseous hexanal down to 10-18 M and 6.9 ppm, and they had wide detection ranges of 10-18 - 10-6 M and 6.9-32.9 ppm, respectively. Moreover, our bioelectronic nose allowed us to monitor hexanal levels in fish and milk. In this respect, our MXene/hydrogel-based bioelectronic nose could be a practical strategy for versatile applications such as food spoilage assessments in both liquid and gaseous systems.

Evolution of olfactory receptor superfamily in bats based on high throughput molecular modelling.

The origin of flight and laryngeal echolocation in bats is likely to have been accompanied by evolutionary changes in other aspects of their sensory biology. Of all sensory modalities in bats, olfaction is perhaps the least well understood. Olfactory receptors (ORs) function in recognizing odour molecules, with crucial roles in evaluating food, as well as in processing social information. Here we compare OR repertoire sizes across taxa and apply a new pipeline that integrates comparative genome data with protein structure modelling and then we employ molecular docking techniques with small molecules to analyse OR functionality based on binding energies. Our results suggest a sharp contraction in odorant recognition of the functional OR repertoire during the origin of bats, consistent with a reduced dependence on olfaction. We also compared bat lineages with contrasting different ecological characteristics and found evidence of differences in OR gene expansion and contraction, and in the composition of ORs with different tuning breadths. The strongest binding energies of ORs in non-echolocating fruit-eating bats were seen to correspond to ester odorants, although we did not detect a quantitative advantage of functional OR repertoires in these bats compared with echolocating insectivorous species. Overall, our findings based on molecular modelling and computational docking suggest that bats have undergone olfactory evolution linked to dietary adaptation. Our results from extant and ancestral bats help to lay the groundwork for targeted experimental functional tests in the future.

Synchronized Expansion and Contraction of Olfactory, Vomeronasal, and Taste Receptor Gene Families in Hystricomorph Rodents.

Chemical senses, including olfaction, pheromones, and taste, are crucial for the survival of most animals. There has long been a debate about whether different types of senses might influence each other. For instance, primates with a strong sense of vision are thought to have weakened olfactory abilities, although the oversimplified trade-off theory is now being questioned. It is uncertain whether such interactions between different chemical senses occur during evolution. To address this question, we examined four receptor gene families related to olfaction, pheromones, and taste: olfactory receptor (OR), vomeronasal receptor type 1 and type 2 (V1R and V2R), and bitter taste receptor (T2R) genes in Hystricomorpha, which is morphologically and ecologically the most diverse group of rodents. We also sequenced and assembled the genome of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus. By examining 16 available genome assemblies alongside the grasscutter genome, we identified orthologous gene groups among hystricomorph rodents for these gene families to separate the gene gain and loss events in each phylogenetic branch of the Hystricomorpha evolutionary tree. Our analysis revealed that the expansion or contraction of the four gene families occurred synchronously, indicating that when one chemical sense develops or deteriorates, the others follow suit. The results also showed that V1R/V2R genes underwent the fastest evolution, followed by OR genes, and T2R genes were the most evolutionarily stable. This variation likely reflects the difference in ligands of V1R/V2Rs, ORs, and T2Rs: species-specific pheromones, environment-based scents, and toxic substances common to many animals, respectively.

The trilogy of human musk receptors: linking receptor activation, genotype, and sensory perception.

The scent of musk plays a unique role in the history of perfumery. Musk odorants comprise 6 diverse chemical classes and perception differences in strength and quality among human panelists have long puzzled the field of olfaction research. Three odorant receptors (OR) had recently been described for musk odorants: OR5AN1, OR1N2, and OR5A2. High functional expression of the difficult-to-express human OR5A2 was achieved by a modification of the C-terminal domain and the link between sensory perception and receptor activation for the trilogy of these receptors and their key genetic variants was investigated: All 3 receptors detect only musky smelling compounds among 440 commercial fragrance compounds. OR5A2 is the key receptor for the classes of polycyclic and linear musks and for most macrocylic lactones. A single P172L substitution reduces the sensitivity of OR5A2 by around 50-fold. In parallel, human panelists homozygous for this mutation have around 40-60-fold higher sensory detection threshold for selective OR5A2 ligands. For macrocyclic lactones, OR5A2 could further be proven as the key OR by a strong correlation between in vitro activation and the sensory detection threshold in vivo. OR5AN1 is the dominant receptor for the perception of macrocyclic ketones such as muscone and some nitromusks, as panelists with a mutant OR5A2 are still equally sensitive to these ligands. Finally, OR1N2 appears to be an additional receptor involved in the perception of the natural (E)-ambrettolide. This study for the first time links OR activation to sensory perception and genetic polymorphisms for this unique class of odorants.