Chemosensory adaptations of the mountain fly Drosophila nigrosparsa (Insecta: Diptera) through genomics' and structural biology's lenses.

ABSTRACT: Chemoreception is essential for survival. Some chemicals signal the presence of nutrients or toxins, others the proximity of mating partners, competitors, or predators. Chemical signal transduction has therefore been studied in multiple organisms. In Drosophila species, a number of odorant receptor genes and various other types of chemoreceptors were found. Three main gene families encode for membrane receptors and one for globular proteins that shuttle compounds with different degrees of affinity and specificity towards receptors. By sequencing the genome of Drosophila nigrosparsa, a habitat specialist restricted to montane/alpine environment, and combining genomics and structural biology techniques, we characterised odorant, gustatory, ionotropic receptors and odorant binding proteins, a

SUBMITTER: Cicconardi F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5335605 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature