Functional analysis of a bitter gustatory receptor highly expressed in the larval maxillary galea of Helicoverpa armigera.

ABSTRACT: Many plant secondary substances are feeding deterrents for insects and play a key role in the selection of host plants. The taste sensilla of phytophagous insects contain gustatory sensory neurons sensitive to deterrents but the molecular basis of deterrent chemoreception remains unknown. We investigated the function of Gr180, the most highly expressed bitter gustatory receptor in the maxillary galea of Helicoverpa armigera larvae. Functional analyses using the Xenopus oocyte expression system and two-electrode voltage clamp revealed that the oocytes expressing Gr180 responded to coumarin. Tip recording results showed that the medial sensilla styloconica of the maxilla of fifth instar larvae exhibited electrophysiological responses to coumarin. Two-choice feeding bioassays confirmed that c

SUBMITTER: Chen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9581421 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature