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The monogenic and monoallelic expression of only one out of >1000 mouse olfactory receptor (ORs) genes requires the formation of large heterochromatic chromatin domains that sequester the OR gene clusters. Within these domains, intergenic transcriptional enhancers evade heterochromatic silencing and converge into interchromosomal hubs that assemble over the transcriptionally active OR. The significance of this nuclear organization in OR choice remains elusive. Here, we show that transcription factors Lhx2 and Ebf specify OR enhancers by binding in a functionally cooperative fashion to stereotypically spaced motifs that defy heterochromatin. Specific displacement of Lhx2 and Ebf from OR enhancers resulted in pervasive, long-range, and downregulation of OR transcription, whereas pre-assembly of a multi-enhancer hub increased the frequency of OR choice in cis. Our data provide genetic support for the requirement and sufficiency of interchromosomal interactions in singular OR choice and generate general regulatory principles for stochastic, mutually exclusive gene expression programs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.28620 | DOI Listing |
Sci Adv
September 2025
State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, China.
Insects, unlike vertebrates, use heteromeric complexes of odorant receptors and co-receptors for olfactory signal transduction. However, the secondary messengers involved in this process are largely unknown. Here, we use the olfactory signal transduction of the aggregation pheromone 4-vinylanisole (4VA) as a model to address this question.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Econ Entomol
September 2025
State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
The ability of parasitoid wasps to precisely locate hosts in complex environments is a key factor in suppressing pest populations. Chemical communication plays an essential role in mediating insect behaviors such as locating food sources, hosts, and mates. Odorant receptors (ORs) are the key connection between external odors and olfactory nerves.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Biol
August 2025
National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address:
Plant viruses are known to indirectly manipulate insect vector behavior by altering host-plant phenotypes, yet the mechanisms by which they directly regulate vector behavior to enhance transmission remain poorly understood. Here, we reveal how the southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) reprograms the host preference of its planthopper vector, Sogatella furcifera, from infected to healthy rice plants by disrupting immune-olfactory crosstalk. We demonstrate that the SRBSDV-encoded P8 protein competitively binds to the S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Mater Interfaces
September 2025
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8568, Japan.
Chemical sensor arrays mimic the mammalian olfactory system to achieve artificial olfaction, and receptor materials resembling olfactory receptors are being actively developed. To realize practical artificial olfaction, it is essential to provide guidelines for developing effective receptor materials based on the structure-activity relationship. In this study, we demonstrated the visualization of the relationship between sensing signal features and odorant molecular features using an explainable AI (XAI) technique.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPestic Biochem Physiol
November 2025
Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
The olfactory system of insects plays a vital role in their survival by enabling them to detect chemical cues and adapt to changing environments. The rape stem weevil, Ceutorhynchus asper, is a significant pest posing a challenge for rapeseed production due to its destructive feeding habit and increasing resistance to insecticides. So far, there's still limited knowledge about structure and function of odorant binding proteins (OBPs) in beetles like C.
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