Functional characterization of sex pheromone receptors in Spodoptera frugiperda, S. exigua, and S. litura moths

• Published in: Insect science 2023-04, Vol.30 (2), p.305-320
• Main Authors: Zhang, Sai, Liu, Fang, Yang, Bin, Liu, Yang, Wang, Gui‐Rong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Animals; Antennae; Butterflies & moths; Chemical communication; Divergence; Female; Gametocytes; Gene Expression; Genes; Genomes; Homology; Male; Males; Moths - genetics; Moths - metabolism; Odorant receptors; Oocytes; pheromone; pheromone receptor; Pheromone receptors; Pheromones; Receptor mechanisms; Receptors; Receptors, Pheromone - genetics; Receptors, Pheromone - metabolism; Reproduction (biology); Sex; Sex Attractants - metabolism; Sex pheromone; Spodoptera; Spodoptera - physiology; Spodoptera frugiperda; Xenopus oocytes
• ISSN: 1672-9609; 1744-7917
• DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13098

Moths possess an extremely sensitive and diverse sex pheromone processing system, in which pheromone receptors (PRs) are essential to ensure communication between mating partners. Functional properties of some PRs are conserved among species, which is important for reproduction. However, functional differentiation has occurred in some homologous PR genes, which may drive species divergence. Here, using genome analysis, 17 PR genes were identified from Spodoptera frugiperda, S. exigua, and S. litura, which belong to 6 homologous groups (odorant receptor [OR]6, 11, 13, 16, 56, and 62); of which 6 PR genes (OR6, OR11, OR13, OR16, OR56, and OR62) were identified in S. frugiperda and S. exigua, and 5 PR genes were identified in S. litura, excluding OR62. Using heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes, we characterized the functions of PR orthologs including OR6, OR56, and OR62, which have not been clarified in previous studies. OR6 orthologs were specifically tuned to (Z,E)‐9,12‐tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9,E12‐14:OAc), and OR62 orthologs were robustly tuned to Z7‐12:OAc in S. frugiperda and S. exigua. The optimal ligand for OR56 was Z7‐12:OAc in S. frugiperda, but responses were minimal in S. exigua and S. litura. In addition, SfruOR6 was male antennae‐specific, whereas SfruOR56 and SfruOR62 were male antennae‐biased. Our study further clarified the functional properties of PRs in 3 Spodoptera moth species, providing a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of intraspecific communication and interspecific isolation in Spodoptera. Graphical Two pheromone receptors (PRs) were reidentified in Spodoptera frugiperda and S. exigua, but only one in S. litura. The newly identified and functionally uncertain PRs were functionally characterized. OR6 and OR62 orthologs were functionally conserved, but functional divergence occurred in OR56 orthologs.