Molecular Mechanisms of Reception and Perireception in Crustacean Chemoreception: A Comparative Review

Abstract

This review summarizes our present knowledge of chemoreceptor proteins in crustaceans, using a comparative perspective to review these molecules in crustaceans relative to other metazoan models of chemoreception including mammals, insects, nematodes, and molluscs. Evolution has resulted in unique expansions of specific gene families and repurposing of them for chemosensation in various clades, including crustaceans. A major class of chemoreceptor proteins across crustaceans is the Ionotropic Receptors, which diversified from ionotropic glutamate receptors in ancient protostomes but which are not present in deuterostomes. Representatives of another major class of chemoreceptor proteins-the Grl/GR/OR family of ionotropic 7-transmembrane receptors-are diversified in insects but to date have been reported in only one crustacean species, Daphnia pulex So far, canonic 7-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors, the principal chemoreceptors in vertebrates and reported in a few protostome clades, have not been identified in crustaceans. More types of chemoreceptors are known throughout the metazoans and might well be expected to be discovered in crustaceans. Our review also provides a comparative coverage of perireceptor events in crustacean chemoreception, including molecules involved in stimulus acquisition, stimulus delivery, and stimulus removal, though much less is known about these events in crustaceans, particularly at the molecular level.

Beyond chemoreception: diverse tasks of soluble olfactory proteins in insects

“…Soluble proteins of a different class (Niemann‐Pick type 2) have been suggested to function as semiochemical carriers in Chelicerata and Crustacea (Pelosi et al., ). However, while carrier proteins for hydrophobic odorants are expected to enhance olfactory sensitivity in terrestrial arthropods, such proteins do not seem to be necessary in aquatic animals which mainly rely on water‐soluble semiochemicals (Derby et al., ).…”

Molecular characterization and evolution of a chemosensory receptor gene family in three notorious rice planthoppers, Nilaparvata lugens, Sogatella furcifera and Laodelphax striatellus, based on genome and transcriptome analyses

“…Insects rely on sensitive chemosensory systems to accomplish many crucial behaviors, such as locating and selecting hosts, mating, and avoiding predators . In many insects there are three types of chemosensory receptors: odorant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs) and gustatory receptor (GRs).…”

“…Insects rely on sensitive chemosensory systems to accomplish many crucial behaviors, such as locating and selecting hosts, mating, and avoiding predators. [1][2][3][4][5] In many insects there are three types of chemosensory receptors: odorant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs) and gustatory receptor (GRs). The cells housing these receptor genes are mainly found in antennae, maxillary and labial palps that are covered by hair-like structures termed sensilla.…”

Nanopore formation in the cuticle of an insect olfactory sensillum

“…However, the cellular processes underlying the patterning of extracellular matrices into functional nano-structures remain unknown. Here we show that cuticular nanopores in Drosophila olfactory sensilla originate from a curved ultrathin film that is formed in the outermost envelope layer of the cuticle, and secreted from specialized 30 protrusions in the plasma membrane of the hair forming (trichogen) cell. The envelope curvature coincides with plasma membrane undulations associated with endocytic structures.…”