The Stimulatory G alpha(s) Protein Is Involved in Olfactory Signal Transduction in Drosophila
2011 | journal article. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.
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The Stimulatory G alpha(s) Protein Is Involved in Olfactory Signal Transduction in Drosophila
Deng, Y.; Zhang, W.; Farhat, K.; Oberland, S.; Gisselmann, G. & Neuhaus, E. M. (2011)
PLoS ONE, 6(4) art. e18605. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0018605
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- Authors
- Deng, Ying; Zhang, W.; Farhat, Katja; Oberland, Sonja; Gisselmann, Guenter; Neuhaus, Eva M.
- Abstract
- Seven-transmembrane receptors typically mediate olfactory signal transduction by coupling to G-proteins. Although insect odorant receptors have seven transmembrane domains like G-protein coupled receptors, they have an inverted membrane topology, constituting a key difference between the olfactory systems of insects and other animals. While heteromeric insect ORs form ligand-activated non-selective cation channels in recombinant expression systems, the evidence for an involvement of cyclic nucleotides and G-proteins in odor reception is inconsistent. We addressed this question in vivo by analyzing the role of G-proteins in olfactory signaling using electrophysiological recordings. We found that G alpha(s) plays a crucial role for odorant induced signal transduction in OR83b expressing olfactory sensory neurons, but not in neurons expressing CO2 responsive proteins GR21a/GR63a. Moreover, signaling of Drosophila ORs involved G alpha(s) also in a heterologous expression system. In agreement with these observations was the finding that elevated levels of cAMP result in increased firing rates, demonstrating the existence of a cAMP dependent excitatory signaling pathway in the sensory neurons. Together, we provide evidence that G alpha(s) plays a role in the OR mediated signaling cascade in Drosophila.
- Issue Date
- 2011
- Status
- published
- Publisher
- Public Library Science
- Journal
- PLoS ONE
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- Sponsor
- NE [755/3-1]; Max-Planck-Research School for Chemical Biology (IMPRS-CB)