Candidate chemoreceptor subfamilies differentially expressed in the chemosensory organs of the mollusc Aplysia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Marine molluscs, as is the case with most aquatic animals, rely heavily on olfactory cues for survival. In the mollusc Aplysia californica, mate-attraction is mediated by a blend of water-borne protein pheromones that are detected by sensory structures called rhinophores. The expression of G protein and phospholipase C signaling molecules in this organ is consistent with chemosensory detection being via a G-protein-coupled signaling mechanism.

Results

Here we show that novel multi-transmembrane proteins with similarity to rhodopsin G-protein coupled receptors are expressed in sensory epithelia microdissected from the Aplysia rhinophore. Analysis of the A. californica genome reveals that these are part of larger multigene families that possess features found in met

SUBMITTER: Cummins SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2700072 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature