Probing the optimal architecture and molecular mechanism of insect odorant receptor heteromeric channels.

ABSTRACT: Insects have a powerful olfactory system that is far more selective and sensitive than artificial detectors. Insect odorant receptors (ORs) are key components of the system, which are ligand-gated ion channels comprising a specific odorant-sensing OR and a highly conserved odorant receptor co-receptor (Orco). However, the stoichiometric ratios of the heterotetramers remain inconclusive, and the molecular mechanism by which the ligand initiates channel opening is still not fully understood. The present study is based on the technical approach of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. We predict the spatial structures of locust LmOR35-Orco heterotetramer under various stoichiometric ratios, construct it within a membrane environment, and compare the structural changes of LmOR35-Orco before and

SUBMITTER: Xue W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12307648 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature