Structures and Molecular Mechanisms of Insect Odorant and Gustatory Receptors.

Abstract

Insects rely on chemoreceptors in sensory neurons to detect and discriminate various chemicals in constantly changing environments. Among the chemoreceptors, odorant receptors (ORs) and gustatory receptors (GRs) play essential roles in sensing different odorant and tastant molecules, thereby regulating insects' physiology and behaviors such as feeding, mating, and alarming. ORs and GRs are evolutionarily related seven-transmembrane helical proteins that constitute a large family of tetrameric ion channels. In recent years, great progress has been made in the structures and molecular mechanisms of insect ORs and GRs. In this review, we summarize the available structures of insect ORs and GRs, analyze their diverse ligand recognition modes, and examine their conserved ligand activation mechanisms. These structural analyses will not only enhance our understanding of molecular basis of insect ORs and GRs but also provide critical insights for the future discovery of repellents and attractants.