Efficient methods to isolate effectors of proteins involved in olfactory or chemosensory pathways and efficient methods to use these effectors to alter organism olfaction, chemosensation, or behavior
This invention provides methods and compositions for identifying effectors, binding partners, or other molecules that interact with the proteins involved in the chemosensory pathway; examples of proteins involved in the olfactory pathway include odorant binding proteins (OBPs), sensory appendage proteins (SAPs), orthologs of the Drosophila melanogaster Takeout protein (TOLs), odorant degrading enzymes (ODEs) and odorant receptors (ORs or GPCRs). The invention identifies proteins, molecules, or chemicals that can interact with these olfactory proteins, including but not limited to agonists or antagonists of these proteins. This invention also provides methods and compositions for identifying effectors, binding partners, or other molecules that interact with the proteins involved in the chemosensory pathway; these proteins are generally similar to the olfactory proteins. Generally, the method consists of isolating gene products specifically expressed in the tissue of interest, and assaying function. This invention provides methods of use for the identified agonists and antagonists for controlling insect feeding and breeding behavior, eliminating odors, altering other behaviors, and the like.
