Pinocchio, a novel protein expressed in the antenna, contributes to olfactory behavior inDrosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Most organisms depend on chemoreception for survival and reproduction. In Drosophila melanogaster multigene families of chemosensory receptors and putative odorant binding proteins have been identified. Here, we introduce an additional distinct protein, encoded by the CG4710 gene, that contributes to olfactory behavior. Previously, we identified through P[lArB]-element mutagenesis a smell impaired (smi) mutant, smi21F, with odorant-specific defects in avoidance responses. Here, we show that the smi21F mutant also exhibits reduced attractant responses to some, but not all, of a select group of odorants. Furthermore, electroantennogram amplitudes are increased in smi21F flies. Characterization of flanking sequences of the P[lArB] insertion site, complementation mapping, phenotypic reversion through P-element excision, and expression analysis implicate a predicted gene, CG4710, as the candidate smi gene. CG4710 produces two transcripts that encode proteins that contain conserved cysteines and which are reduced in the smi21F mutant. Furthermore, in situ hybridization reveals CG4710 expression in the third antennal segment. We have named this gene of previously unknown function and its product ''Pinocchio (Pino)''.

Functional characterization of odorant receptors in the ponerine ant, Harpegnathos saltator

“…That said, even with this treatment, several potential artifacts must be acknowledged. First, the simplest carboxylic acids-methanoic (formic) and ethanoic (acetic) acidshowed significantly reduced (inhibitory) responses relative to diluent alone control (paraffin oil), which given their intensity, potentially reflect recording artifacts induced in the antennae and/ or recording electrodes by the chemical nature of these acids, a phenomenon that has been occasionally reported by other groups (22). This observation can likely be attributed to the high volatility of these acids that potentially could give rise to massive, nonbiologically relevant, odorant concentrations being delivered to the antenna.…”

Pleiotropic Effects of Drosophila neuralized on Complex Behaviors and Brain Structure

“…Moreover, such altered transcriptional profiles can define a functional context for the disrupted gene (Rollmann et al 2005). The results from our expression microarray analysis show that insertions of P elements in neur result in a genomewide cascade of transcripts with altered expression.…”

Transcriptional response to alcohol exposure in Drosophila melanogaster

“…This pattern of altered transcript abundance reflects acute down-regulation of olfactory function upon exposure to undiluted ethanol vapor. Expression of two olfactory proteins is up-regulated: Obp99d is slowly up-regulated and Pinocchio , a gene that encodes a protein implicated in removal of xenobiotics from the sensillar perilymph [18], is transiently up-regulated upon exposure to ethanol (Table 1). In addition, biotransformation enzymes, including those encoded by Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a13 , and glutathione-S-transferase D5 , are acutely up-regulated.…”

“…In addition, biotransformation enzymes, including those encoded by Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a13 , and glutathione-S-transferase D5 , are acutely up-regulated. Since Pinocchio is extensively expressed throughout the third antennal segment [18], it is unlikely that the observed reduction in expression of the subset of odorant binding proteins and odorant receptors is due to ethanol induced tissue damage.…”