An ammonium transporter is a non-canonical olfactory receptor for ammonia.

ABSTRACT: Numerous hematophagous insects are attracted to ammonia, a volatile released in human sweat and breath.^1-3 Low levels of ammonia also attract non-biting insects such as the genetic model organism Drosophila melanogaster and several species of agricultural pests.^4,5 Two families of ligand-gated ion channels function as olfactory receptors in insects,^6-10 and studies have linked ammonia sensitivity to a particular olfactory receptor in Drosophila.^5,11,12 Given the widespread importance of ammonia to insect behavior, it is surprising that the genomes of most insects lack an ortholog of this gene.⁶ Here, we show that canonical olfactory receptors are not necessary for respon

SUBMITTER: Vulpe A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8355169 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature