A natural polymorphism alters odour and DEET sensitivity in an insect odorant receptor

Maurizio Pellegrino, Nicole Steinbach, Marcus C. Stensmyr, Bill S. Hansson and Leslie B. Vosshall ()
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Maurizio Pellegrino: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behaviour, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Box 63
Nicole Steinbach: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behaviour, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Box 63
Marcus C. Stensmyr: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans Knöll Strasse 8
Bill S. Hansson: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans Knöll Strasse 8
Leslie B. Vosshall: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behaviour, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Box 63

Nature, 2011, vol. 478, issue 7370, 511-514

Abstract: Confusant activity of DEET The insect repellant DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) efficiently deters disease-propagating insects, but whether it broadly blocks their odour recognition or selectively activates olfactory neurons that drive avoidance behaviour has been controversial. Leslie Vosshall and colleagues have now found a single amino-acid change in the olfactory receptor protein Or59b of a Brazilian strain of fruitfly, which renders it insensitive to its odour ligand and to DEET. DEET is shown to act as a 'confusant', scrambling the insect odour code; this explains why it is effective against a broad range of insect species.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/nature10438

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