odr-10 encodes a seven transmembrane domain olfactory receptor required for responses to the odorant diacetyl

Abstract

Olfactory signaling is initiated by interactions between odorants and olfactory receptors. We show that the C. elegans odr-10 gene is likely to encode a receptor for the odorant diacetyl. odr-10 mutants have a specific defect in chemotaxis to diacetyl, one of several odorants detected by the AWA olfactory neurons. odr-10 encodes a predicted seven transmembrane domain receptor; a green fluorescent protein-tagged Odr-10 protein is localized to the AWA sensory cilia. odr-10 expression is regulated by odr-7, a transcription factor implicated in AWA sensory specification. Expression of odr-10 from a heterologous promoter directs behavioral responses to diacetyl, but not to another odorant detected by the AWA neurons. These results provide functional evidence for a specific interaction between an olfactory receptor protein and its odorant ligand.