Genes encoding insect odorant receptors and uses thereof

Abstract

This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an insect odorant receptor. This invention provides a nucleic acid molecule of at least 12 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with the nucleic acid molecule encoding an insect odorant receptor. This invention also provides a purified, insect odorant receptor. This invention provides an antibody capable of specifically binding to an insect odorant receptor. This invention provides a method for identifying cDNA inserts encoding an insect odorant receptors. This invention provides a method of identifying a compound capable of specifically bind to an insect odorant receptor. This invention also provides a method of identifying a compound capable of activating the activity of an insect odorant receptor.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide present in an insect odorant receptor, wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of polypeptides comprising consecutive amino acids the sequence of which is one of the following: 
 (a) SEQ ID NO: 2,    (b) SEQ ID NO: 4,    (c) SEQ ID NO: 6,    (d) SEQ ID NO: 8,    (e) SEQ ID NO: 10,    (f) SEQ ID NO: 12,    (g) SEQ ID NO: 14,    (h) SEQ ID NO: 16,    (i) SEQ ID NO: 18,    (j) SEQ ID NO: 20,    (k) SEQ ID NO: 22,    (l) SEQ ID NO: 24,    (m) SEQ ID NO: 26,    (n) SEQ ID NO: 28,    (o) SEQ ID NO: 30,    (p) SEQ ID NO: 32,    (q) SEQ ID NO: 34,    (r) SEQ ID NO: 36,    (s) SEQ ID NO: 38,    (t) SEQ ID NO: 40,    (u) SEQ ID NO: 42,    (v) SEQ ID NO: 44,    (w) SEQ ID NO: 46,    (x) SEQ ID NO: 48,    (y) SEQ ID NO: 50,    (z) SEQ ID NO: 52,    (aa) SEQ ID NO: 54,    (bb) SEQ ID NO: 56,    (cc) SEQ ID NO: 58,    (dd) SEQ ID NO: 60,    (ee) SEQ ID NO: 62,    (ff) SEQ ID NO: 64,    (gg) SEQ ID NO: 66,    (hh) SEQ ID NO: 68,    (ii) SEQ ID NO: 70,    (jj) SEQ ID NO: 72,    (kk) SEQ ID NO: 74,    (ll) SEQ ID NO: 76,    (mm) SEQ ID NO: 78,    (nn) SEQ ID NO: 80,    (oo) SEQ ID NO: 82,    (pp) SEQ ID NO: 84,    (qq) SEQ ID NO: 86,    (rr) SEQ ID NO: 88,    (ss) SEQ ID NO: 90,    (tt) SEQ ID NO: 92,    (uu) SEQ ID NO: 94,    (vv) SEQ ID NO: 96,    (ww) SEQ ID NO: 98,    (xx) SEQ ID NO: 100,    (yy) SEQ ID NO: 102,    (zz)    SEQ ID NO: 106, or 
 (aaa) a polypeptide which shares greater than 25% amino acid identity with any one of the polypeptides of (a)-(aaa), and comprises a transmembrane domain and an adjoining C-terminal domain which together comprise consecutive amino acids the sequence of which is as follows:  
 —(F, Y, L, A, T, S or C)—(P, I, M, V, T, L, Q, S or H)—(F, Y, I, S, L, C, M or V)—(C, Y, T, S, L or A)-(Y, N, F, M, I, L, K, S, H or T)-(X) 20 —W— (SEQ ID NO: 107);  
 wherein each X in (X) 20 represents an amino acid and the identity of each X is independent of the identity of any other X.  
   
     
     
         6 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide present in an insect odorant receptor, wherein the nucleic acid hybridizes under high stringency to a complement of a nucleic acid of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide present in an insect odorant receptor, wherein the nucleic acid comprises: 
 (a) a nucleic acid sequence given in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, or 105; or    (b) a nucleic acid sequence degenerate to a sequence of (a) as a result of the genetic code.    
     
     
         14 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 13 , wherein the insect odorant receptor comprises seven transmembrane domains.  
     
     
         15 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid is DNA or RNA.  
     
     
         16 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 15 , wherein the DNA is cDNA, genomic DNA, or synthetic DNA.  
     
     
         17 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a Drosophila odorant receptor.  
     
     
         18 - 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . A vector which comprises the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         21 - 34 . (canceled)  
     
     
         35 . A method of transforming a cell which comprises transfecting a host cell with the vector of  claim 20 .  
     
     
         36 . A transformed cell produced by the method of  claim 35 .  
     
     
         37 . The transformed cell of  claim 36 , wherein prior to being transfected with the vector the host cell does not express an insect odorant receptor.  
     
     
         38 . The transformed cell of  claim 36 , wherein prior to being transfected with the vector the host cell does express an insect odorant receptor.  
     
     
         39 - 54 . (canceled)  
     
     
         55 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 11 , wherein the nucleic acid is DNA or RNA.  
     
     
         56 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 11 , wherein the DNA is cDNA, genomic DNA, or synthetic DNA.  
     
     
         57 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 11 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a Drosophila odorant receptor.  
     
     
         58 . A vector which comprises the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         59 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 13 , wherein the nucleic acid is DNA or RNA.  
     
     
         60 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 13 , wherein the DNA is cDNA, genomic DNA, or synthetic DNA.  
     
     
         61 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 13 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a Drosophila odorant receptor.  
     
     
         62 . A vector which comprises the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 13.