Arthropod olfactory receptor (OR)

Arthropod olfactory receptors (ORs) are a unique class of heteromeric ligand-gated ion channels that serve as the primary sensory apparatus for detecting volatile chemical cues in insects and other arthropods (Sato et al., 2008, Nature). Unlike the G protein-coupled receptors found in vertebrate olfactory systems, arthropod ORs possess an inverted membrane topology and require a highly conserved co-receptor, Orco, to form a functional cation channel (Benton et al., 2006, PLoS Biology). These receptors are expressed in olfactory sensory neurons located within the sensilla of antennae and maxillary palps, where they translate chemical signals into electrical activity to drive behaviors such as foraging, mating, and host-seeking. In the field of public health, ORs are the principal targets for insect repellents like DEET and Icaridin, which interfere with the receptor's ability to process host-derived odors, thereby reducing the transmission of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and Zika (Ditzen et al., 2008, Cell). Additionally, they are significant targets in agricultural biotechnology for developing precise pest control strategies that minimize the use of broad-spectrum insecticides.

Other names

Insect olfactory receptorOdorant receptorOR/Orco complexLigand-gated odorant channel

Arthropod olfactory receptors function as heteromeric ligand-gated ion channels composed of a specific odorant-binding OR subunit and a highly conserved co-receptor (Orco); drugs act as agonists, antagonists, or allosteric modulators to disrupt odorant detection and subsequent host-seeking behavior (Wicher et al., 2008, Nature; Jones et al., 2011, PNAS).