A novel Takeout-like protein expressed in the taste and olfactory organs of the blowfly, Phormia regina

FEBS J. 2006 Sep;273(18):4311-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2006.05422.x. Epub 2006 Aug 23.

Abstract

In insects, the functional molecules responsible for the taste system are still obscure. The gene for a 28.5 kDa protein purified from taste sensilla of the blowfly Phormia regina belongs to a gene family that includes takeout of Drosophila melanogaster. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Phormia Takeout-like protein is most similar to the protein encoded by a member of the Drosophila takeout gene family, CG14661, whose expression and function have not been identified yet. Western blot analyses revealed that Phormia Takeout-like protein was exclusively expressed in antennae and labellum of the adult blowfly in both sexes. Immunohistochemical experiments demonstrated that Takeout-like protein was localized around the lamella structure of the auxiliary cells and in the sensillar lymph of the labellar taste sensillum. In antennae, Takeout-like protein was distributed at the base of the olfactory sensilla as well. No significant differences in Takeout-like protein expression were found between the sexes. Our results suggest that Phormia Takeout-like protein is involved in some early events concerned with chemoreception in both the taste and olfactory systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Western
  • Diptera / chemistry
  • Diptera / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / chemistry
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Insect Proteins / chemistry
  • Insect Proteins / genetics*
  • Insect Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Smell / genetics*
  • Taste / genetics*

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • TO protein, Drosophila