Project Number: 5352-22430-001-28
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Apr 01, 2012
End Date: Dec 31, 2014

Objective:
The objective of this proposed project is to characterize proteins (odorant receptors, odorant binding proteins and odorant degrading enzymes), and the gene transcripts that encode them to increase our knowledge of how the codling moth olfactory system works to detect codlemone at the cellular level.

Approach:
1) We will express and characterize proteins predicted to be involved in codlemone detection. This will include odorant binding proteins, nerve membrane receptors, and odorant degrading enzymes. 2) We will determine which odorant binding proteins, nerve membrane receptors, and odorant degrading enzymes are involved in the codlemone signaling pathway using in vitro protein expression and binding assays. 3) We will determine where codlemone reactive proteins are expressed in antennae using fluorescent in situ hybridization and immunofluorescent detection methods. 4) We will determine if codlemone signaling can disrupted using various odorant degrading enzyme inhibitors (many of which are commercially available) in flight tunnel studies.