biostudies-literatureZhang Fthe Project of Science and Technology Innovation Team, Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, P.R. ChinaKey research and development program of Dabie Mountain Laboratorythe National Natural Science Foundation of China4568https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12110804biostudies-literatureUnknown26(10)Insect odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are promising molecular targets for developing novel pest management strategies by modulating chemoreception-driven behaviors. The tea gray geometrid <i>Ectropis grisescens</i> (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) is a major pest in tea plantations, causing substantial economic losses in China. In this study, we identified 18 OBPs from <i>E. grisescens</i> antennal transcriptome. All of the encoded proteins possessed N-terminal signal peptides and conserved cysteine residues, behaviors which are characteristic of insect OBPs. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these proteins into plus-C, minus-C, and classic OBP subfamilies. MEME motif analysis identified conserved sequence features potentially involved in odor detection. Tissue- and sex-specific expression profInternational journal of molecular sciencesMolecular Characterization and Functional Analysis of Odorant-Binding Proteins in &lt;i&gt;Ectropis grisescens&lt;/i&gt;.PMC12110804KJCXTD-202003 and KJCXTD-20220332402364DMLP006Geng SZhang FLi XGuo SSun HZhou XShi HZhou ZfalseMolecular Characterization and Functional Analysis of Odorant-Binding Proteins in &lt;i&gt;Ectropis grisescens&lt;/i&gt;.Insect odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are promising molecular targets for developing novel pest management strategies by modulating chemoreception-driven behaviors. The tea gray geometrid <i>Ectropis grisescens</i> (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) is a major pest in tea plantations, causing substantial economic losses in China. In this study, we identified 18 OBPs from <i>E. grisescens</i> antennal transcriptome. All of the encoded proteins possessed N-terminal signal peptides and conserved cysteine residues, behaviors which are characteristic of insect OBPs. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these proteins into plus-C, minus-C, and classic OBP subfamilies. MEME motif analysis identified conserved sequence features potentially involved in odor detection. Tissue- and sex-specific expression prof2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 May2026-05-23T03:08:30.067Z2026-05-23T03:07:08.951ZS-EPMC121108044042971310.3390/ijms26104568