Pheromone anosmia in a scarab beetle induced by in vivo inhibition of a pheromone-degrading enzyme.

ABSTRACT: Previous biochemical evidence suggests that a cytochrome P450 specific to male antennae of the pale-brown chafer, Phyllopertha diversa, has evolved as a pheromone-degrading enzyme. By using a bioinformatics approach, we have now cloned three P450 cDNAs: CYP4AW1, CYP4AW2, and CYP6AT1. RT-PCR indicated that CYP4AW2 is expressed in all tissues examined, that CYP6AT1 is antennae-rich, and that CYP4AW1 is antennae-specific. Both tissue specificity and electrophysiological studies strongly support that CYP4AW1 in P. diversa is a pheromone-degrading enzyme involved in pheromone inactivation. Highly sensitive, pheromone-specific olfactory receptor neurons in male antennae were completely desensitized by direct application of metyrapone into the sensillar lymph. When tested in the same or different

SUBMITTER: Maibeche-Coisne M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC509178 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature