Olfaction is a key insect adaptation to a wide range of habitats. In the last thirty years, the detection of octenol by blood-feeding insects has been primarily understood in the context of animal host-seeking. The recent discovery of a conserved octenol receptor gene in the strictly nectar-feeding elephant mosquito Toxorhynchites amboinensis (TaOr8) suggests a different biological role. Here, we show that TaOR8 is a functional ortholog of its counterparts in blood-feeding mosquitoes displaying selectivity towards the (R)-enantiomer of octenol and susceptibility to the insect repellent DEET. These findings suggest that while the function of OR8 has been maintained throughout mosquito evolution, the context in which this receptor is operating has diverged in blood and nectar-feeding mosquitoes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep37330 | DOI Listing |
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
February 2025
Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158.
The ε4 variant of human apolipoprotein E () is a key genetic risk factor for neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and elevated all-cause mortality in humans. Understanding the factors and mechanisms that can mitigate the harmful effects of has significant implications. In this study, we find that inactivating the VHL-1 (Von Hippel-Lindau) protein can suppress mortality, neural and behavioral pathologies caused by transgenic human in .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS Biol
January 2025
Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
The DAF-2/insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathway plays an evolutionarily conserved role in regulating reproductive development, life span, and stress resistance. In Caenorhabditis elegans, DAF-2/IIS signaling is modulated by an extensive array of insulin-like peptides (ILPs) with diverse spatial and temporal expression patterns. However, the release dynamics and specific functions of these ILPs in adapting to different environmental conditions remain poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChembiochem
January 2025
Nanyang Technological University, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371, Singapore, SINGAPORE.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are recognized as one of the most ancient components of innate immunity, playing a pivotal role as the first line of host defense systems. These evolutionarily conserved molecules have been identified in various organisms, from prokaryotes to humans. AMPs establish a delicate balanced relationship between host and microbes, by simultaneously regulating the biological activities of pathogens and commensal microbes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
Axonal fusion represents an efficient way to recover function after nerve injury. However, how axonal fusion is induced and regulated remains largely unknown. We discover that ferroptosis signaling can promote axonal fusion and functional recovery in C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOn August 24, 2023, Japan controversially decided to discharge nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, initiating intense domestic and global debates. This study employs a mixed-method approach, integrating quantitative evolutionary game theory and qualitative data analysis to explore the strategic dynamics among Japan, other nations, and the Japan Fisheries Association regarding this decision. The data includes international environmental reports and economic statistics, served as the basis for simulating decision-making processes under various legal, economic, and environmental pressures.
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