Review of pheromone receptors in heliothine species: expression, function, and evolution

• Published in: Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 2021-02, Vol.169 (2), p.156-171
• Main Authors: Yang, Ke, Wang, Chen‐Zhu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetates; Acetic acid; Alcohols; Chemical communication; communication; devastating pest species, olfactory receptor neuron, CRISPR/Cas9; Evolution; Gametocytes; Helicoverpa armigera; Heliothinae; Heliothis virescens; heterologous expression system; Lepidoptera; ligand selectivity; Noctuidae; odorant receptor; Odorant receptors; Olfactory receptor neurons; Oocytes; Pests; Pheromone receptors; Pheromones; Receptor mechanisms; Receptors; Selectivity; Sex; Sex pheromone; Species
• ISSN: 0013-8703; 1570-7458
• DOI: 10.1111/eea.12982

Heliothine species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Heliothinae) include some of the world’s most devastating pest species, such as Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) in the Americas and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in the Old World. Sex pheromone communication of these agricultural pest species has been investigated from pheromone receptors (PRs) to brains and behavior in detail. In recent years, great progress has been made in the mechanistic dissection of pheromone reception, demonstrating that PRs play a key role in determining the response characteristics of pheromone‐sensitive olfactory receptor neurons. In this review, we focus on the functional characterization of PRs in heliothine species, and summarize recent progress in the identification of receptors tuned to principal sex pheromone components including Z11‐16:Ald, Z9‐16:Ald, Z9‐14:Ald, and other related alcohols and acetates. Evolution of PRs in ligand selectivity is also discussed. The efficiency and faithfulness of three frequently used heterologous expression systems – Xenopus laevis Daudin oocytes, modified HEK 293 cells, and Drosophila ‘empty neuron’ mutants – are compared, and the research strategies, skills, and perspectives in the studies are envisioned. Finally, we propose future research topics on PRs in heliothine species. Heliothines (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) include some of the world’s most devastating agricultural pest species. Recently, great progress has been made in the mechanistic dissection of pheromone receptors (PRs), which are crucial in the sexual communication of heliothine moths. PRs play a key role in determining the response characteristics of pheromone‐sensitive olfactory receptor neurons. We review the recent progress in identification and functional characterization of PRs in heliothine species, and discuss the evolution of PRs in ligand selectivity.