Molecular and Functional Characterization of Three Odorant-Binding Protein from Periplaneta americana

PLoS One. 2017 Jan 12;12(1):e0170072. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170072. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, is a vector of many pathogenic organisms associated with human diseases. Olfaction plays a crucial role in guiding cockroach behaviors and contributes to their ability to transmit pathogens. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs), abundant in the insect olfactory sensilla, are important for insect olfaction. In this study, three OBP genes, PameOBP1, 2 and 3, were cloned from P. americana. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that PameOBP1, 2 and 3 belong to the Minus-C OBP, Classic OBP, and Plus-C OBP subfamilies, respectively. Expression pattern and ligand-binding analysis showed that PameOBP1 and 2 were specifically expressed in antennae, and exhibited high binding affinities (Ki < 2 μM) to farnesene, farnesol, 2-tridecanone, and tetradecane, suggesting roles in volatile perception. Conversely, PameOBP3 was ubiquitously expressed in most of the tissues examined at high levels and displayed very weak binding affinities (Ki > 40 μM) for all 87 ligands tested. Our study provides insights into the functional diversity of PameOBP genes and provides some volatiles that can potentially be used in behavioral interference of P. americana.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Arthropod Antennae / metabolism
  • Arthropod Antennae / pathology
  • Female
  • Insect Proteins / chemistry
  • Insect Proteins / classification
  • Insect Proteins / genetics
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ketones / chemistry
  • Ketones / metabolism
  • Ligands
  • Male
  • Periplaneta / metabolism*
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA / chemistry
  • RNA / isolation & purification
  • RNA / metabolism
  • Receptors, Odorant / chemistry
  • Receptors, Odorant / classification
  • Receptors, Odorant / genetics*
  • Receptors, Odorant / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Insect Proteins
  • Ketones
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Odorant
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • odorant-binding protein
  • 2-tridecanone
  • RNA

Grants and funding

This study was funded by research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31071978).