关键词: 棉铃虫, 嗅觉受体蛋白, 基因克隆, 表达谱, 半定量RT-PCR

Abstract:

Olfactory receptors in insects were found to be extremely diverse, but there is one exception. There is a kind of olfactory receptor, which shares a rather high identity among different insects. The gene encoding the similar olfactory receptor from Helicoverpa armigera was cloned and named as ORHarm. The ORHarm encoded 473 amino acid residues, including seven putative transmembrane domains, which is the typical characteristic of G protein-coupled receptors. ORHarm shares very obvious homology (>60%) with similar olfactory receptors reported from other insects and the homology with the close sibling species Heliothis virescens reaches 99.4%. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that ORHarm was highly expressed in antenna of H. armigera moth, low expressed in proboscis and not expressed in other tissues of the moth. ORHarm was also expressed in different developmental stages of egg, larva, pupa and imago. ORHarm may play important roles in sensing volatile odors as well as sensing liquid chemical stimulates.

Key words: Helicoverpa armigera, olfactory receptor protein, gene cloning, expression pattern, semi-quantitative RT-PCR