Activation of Pheromone-Sensitive Neurons Is Mediated by Conformational Activation of Pheromone-Binding Protein

John D. Laughlin, Tal Soo Ha, David N M Jones, Dean P. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

372 Scopus citations

Abstract

Detection of volatile odorants by olfactory neurons is thought to result from direct activation of seven-transmembrane odorant receptors by odor molecules. Here, we show that detection of the Drosophila pheromone, 11-cis vaccenyl acetate (cVA), is instead mediated by pheromone-induced conformational shifts in the extracellular pheromone-binding protein, LUSH. We show that LUSH undergoes a pheromone-specific conformational change that triggers the firing of pheromone-sensitive neurons. Amino acid substitutions in LUSH that are predicted to reduce or enhance the conformational shift alter sensitivity to cVA as predicted in vivo. One substitution, LUSHD118A, produces a dominant-active LUSH protein that stimulates T1 neurons through the neuronal receptor components Or67d and SNMP in the complete absence of pheromone. Structural analysis of LUSHD118A reveals that it closely resembles cVA-bound LUSH. Therefore, the pheromone-binding protein is an inactive, extracellular ligand converted by pheromone molecules into an activator of pheromone-sensitive neurons and reveals a distinct paradigm for detection of odorants.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1255-1265
Number of pages11
JournalCell
Volume133
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 27 2008

Keywords

  • MOLNEURO
  • SIGNALING

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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