Odorant receptor 136 (AmelOR136)

AmelOR136 is an odorant receptor found in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) that functions as a critical detector for the colony's alarm pheromone [1]. It belongs to the 9-exon clade of odorant receptors and has been deorphanized to show high sensitivity to esters, specifically isopentyl acetate (IPA), which is the primary volatile component released during stinging events to recruit nestmates for defense [1][8]. Like other insect odorant receptors, AmelOR136 operates as a heteromeric ligand-gated ion channel complex requiring the presence of the conserved co-receptor Orco to function [6]. It is significantly expressed in the antennae of worker bees, with particularly high expression levels noted in in-hive bees compared to foragers [1]. While it is not a target for human clinical therapeutics, AmelOR136 represents a significant molecular target in agricultural biotechnology for monitoring honey bee health and developing pheromone-based colony management strategies [1][10]. The receptor exhibits a specialist response pattern, being finely tuned to chemical signals that indicate immediate threats to the hive [1]. Its characterization is essential for understanding how social insects process complex semiochemicals to maintain colony cohesion and homeostasis.

Other names

OR136Honey bee odorant receptor 136Apis mellifera odorant receptor 136

Activation of a heteromeric odorant-gated ion channel complex (AmelOR136/Orco) upon the binding of specific pheromone esters, leading to neuronal depolarization and signal transmission.