Identification of chemosensory receptor genes in Manduca sexta and knockdown by RNA interference.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Insects detect environmental chemicals via a large and rapidly evolving family of chemosensory receptor proteins. Although our understanding of the molecular genetic basis for Drosophila chemoreception has increased enormously in the last decade, similar understanding in other insects remains limited. The tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, has long been an important model for insect chemosensation, particularly from ecological, behavioral, and physiological standpoints. It is also a major agricultural pest on solanaceous crops. However, little sequence information and lack of genetic tools has prevented molecular genetic analysis in this species. The ability to connect molecular genetic mechanisms, including potential lineage-specific changes in chemosensory genes, to ecol

SUBMITTER: Howlett N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3464597 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature