Unveiling the Robustness of the Insect's Olfactory System

昆虫通过化学信号来感知世界，比如信息素，它可以传达朋友和敌人的存在，暗示交配的准备程度，并指示食物的可用性。它们进化出了一个如此敏锐的嗅觉系统，以至于它们可以通过闻到环境中复杂化学混合物中传播的相关信息来找到“大海捞针”。此外，它们还具有显著的选择性，可以将小麦与毒麦分离开来，这使得它们能够检测到化学信号，同时对另一种几乎相同的分子完全不敏感（从拟人化的角度来看）。通过使用生物化学，生物物理，分子生物学和电生理学方法，该项目将剖析蛾性信息素与气味受体和其他嗅觉蛋白的分子相互作用。目的是揭示这些嗅觉蛋白如何有助于昆虫非凡的嗅觉。了解昆虫嗅觉系统的过度敏感性和选择性的分子基础将打开大门，不仅为害虫控制策略的发展，而且仿生装置的工业和国土安全应用。 此外，这些研究活动将成为培训研究生以及博士后学者学术和/或科学职业专业发展的平台。这一项目与其他学术活动协同作用，将为代表性不足的少数群体提供培训机会。

Insects perceive the world through chemical signals, like pheromones, that communicate the presence of friends and foes, advertize the readiness to mate, and indicate the availability of food. They evolved an olfactory system so acute that they can find "a needle in a haystack" by smelling relevant information broadcasted in the midst of complex chemical mixtures in the environment. In addition, they "separate the darnel from the wheat" with a remarkable selectivity that allows them to detect a chemical signal while being completely insensitive to another molecule almost identical (from an anthropomorphic perspective). By using biochemical, biophysical, molecular biology, and electrophysiological approaches, the project will dissect molecular interactions of moth sex pheromone with an odorant receptor and other olfactory proteins. The goal is to unveil how these olfactory proteins contribute to the extraordinary sense of smell of the insect. Understanding the molecular basis of the inordinate sensitivity and selectivity of the insect olfactory system will open the door for the development of not only strategies for insect pest control, but also biomimetic devices for industrial and homeland security applications. In addition, these research activities will be a platform for training graduate students as well as for professional development of postdoctoral scholars for academic and/or scientific careers. This project in synergy with other academic activities will provide opportunities for training underrepresented minorities.