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

Current Biology : CB
Alina VulpeKaren Menuz

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 responses to ammonia in Drosophila. Instead, we demonstrate that a member of the ancient electrogenic ammonium transporter family, Amt, is likely a new type of olfactory receptor. We report two hitherto unidentified olfactory neuron populations that mediate neuronal and behavioral responses to ammonia in Drosophila. Their endogenous ammonia responses are lost in Amt mutant flies, and ectopic expression of either Drosophila or Anopheles Amt confers ammonia sensitivity. These results suggest that Amt is the first transporter known to function as an olfactory receptor in...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1996·Journal of Structural Biology·J R KremerJ R McIntosh
Mar 24, 2000·Science·G M RubinD A Harvey
Feb 26, 2004·Nature Genetics·Stephen T ThibaultJonathan Margolis
Sep 16, 2005·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·C Andrea YaoJohn R Carlson
May 18, 2007·Annual Review of Neuroscience·Leslie B Vosshall, Reinhard F Stocker
Aug 22, 2007·Molecular Membrane Biology·Susana L A Andrade, Oliver Einsle
Apr 15, 2008·Nature·Koji SatoKazushige Touhara
Aug 3, 2010·Transfusion clinique et biologique : journal de la Société française de transfusion sanguine·G LamoureuxS Bernèche
Nov 19, 2010·Nature·Minrong AiGreg S B Suh
Jan 12, 2011·Neuron·Liliane AbuinRichard Benton
Jun 21, 2011·Nature Neuroscience·Takeshi AwasakiTzumin Lee
Sep 24, 2011·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Ana F SilberingRichard Benton
Nov 22, 2011·Journal of Insect Physiology·Dirk WeihrauchMichael J O'Donnell
Jun 30, 2012·Nature Methods·Johannes SchindelinAlbert Cardona
Mar 6, 2013·Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Raphael RytzRichard Benton
Mar 20, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Soohong MinGreg S B Suh
May 28, 2013·Genetics·Scott J GratzKate M O'Connor-Giles
Nov 6, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Xingjie RenJian-Quan Ni
Mar 29, 2014·Nature·James B BrownSusan E Celniker
Mar 29, 2014·ELife·Christine MissbachEwald Grosse-Wilde
Jun 25, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Tobias WackerSusana L A Andrade
Oct 21, 2014·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·Veit GrabeSilke Sachse
Jan 27, 2015·Neuron·Elizabeth J Hong, Rachel I Wilson
Jan 15, 2016·PLoS Genetics·Qingyun LiPelin Cayirlioglu Volkan
May 6, 2016·PLoS Biology·Ashiq HussainIlona C Grunwald Kadow
Mar 7, 2017·Scientific Reports·R DelventhalJ R Carlson
Aug 8, 2017·Journal of Neuroscience Methods·Eftychios A Pnevmatikakis, Andrea Giovannucci
Feb 9, 2019·Nature Communications·Phing Chian ChaiRichard Benton
Apr 7, 2019·Nature Communications·Ye ZhangChih-Ying Su
Sep 24, 2019·Current Biology : CB·Bochuan TengEmily R Liman
Jul 4, 2020·Current Biology : CB·Alexander S BatesGregory S X E Jefferis
Jul 15, 2020·ELife·Gordon WilliamsonArnaud Javelle

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations


❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Scientific Reports
R DelventhalJohn R Carlson
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology
D CzarnowskiA Boroń-Kaczmarska
Annals of Clinical Biochemistry
J R Huizenga, C H Gips
The American Journal of Physiology
S W Brusilow, E H Gordes
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved