Circabidian rhythm of sex pheromone reception in a scarab beetle

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.057
• Publication Date: 2024-01-18T15:28:33Z
• Authors: Yinliang Wang; Huanhuan Dong; Yafei Qu; Yuxin Zhou; Jianhui Qin; Kebin Li; Chen Luo; Bingzhong Ren; Yazhong Cao; Shuai Zhang; Jiao Yin; Walter S. Leal
• Keywords: Coleoptera; Acyclic Monoterpenes; Animals; Female; Oxides; Sex Attractants; Calcium Compounds; Receptors, Pheromone

Animals have endogenous clocks that regulate their behavior and physiology. These rely on environmental cues (time givers) appear approximately every 24 h due to the Earth's rotation; thus, most insects exhibit a circadian rhythm. One notable exception is scarab beetle, Holotrichia parallela, severe agricultural pest in China, Japan, South Korea, India. Females emerge from soil other night, reach canopy of host plants, evert an abdominal gland, release pheromone bouquet comprising l-isoleucine methyl ester (LIME) l-linalool. To determine whether this circa'bi'dian rhythm affects olfactory system, we aimed identify H. parallela sex receptor(s) study expression patterns. We cloned 14 odorant receptors (ORs) attempted de-orphanizing them Xenopus oocyte recording system. HparOR14 gave robust responses LIME smaller Structural modeling, tissue profile, RNAi treatment followed by physiological behavioral studies support receptor—the first its kind discovered Coleoptera. Examination transcript levels throughout adult's life showed sexually active days, gene was significantly higher scotophase than photophase. Additionally, profile circabidian synchronized with previously identified pattern emission. 48 electroantennogram recordings were abolished non-calling nights. In contrast, green leaf volatile (Z)-3-henexyl acetate remained almost constant period.