Chem. Senses 27: 417-423,
2002
© Oxford University Press 2002
Are Polyamines Involved in Olfaction? An EAG and Biochemical Study in Periplaneta americana Antennae
1 CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie, FRE 2092, 31 chemin Joseph-Aiguier, F-13402 Marseille cedex 20, France 2 UMR 6116 Faculté des Sciences de St-Jérôme, Avenue Escadrille Normandie-Niemen, Boite 451, F-13397 Marseille cedex 20, France
Correspondence to be sent to: Alain Tirard, CNRS, IMEP, 31 chemin Joseph-Aiguier, F-13402 Marseille cedex 20, France. e-mail: tirard{at}lnb.cnrs-mrs.fr
Polyamines have been implicated in modulation of numerous cell functions.
The purpose of this study was to assess the role of polyamines in
intracellular regulation of insect antenna. Analysis of study data showed two
main findings. First, in vivo treatment with the polyamine synthesis
inhibitor
-difluoromethyl-ornithine enhanced the sensitivity of male
Periplaneta americana antenna to female pheromonal blend. Secondly,
polyamine modulated phosphorylation of several antennary proteins including
two found exclusively in antenna (30 and 48 kDa). In both of these exclusive
antennary proteins, phosphorylation changed after stimulation with the
pheromonal blend. These results suggest that polyamines play a regulatory role
in detection of female pheromonal blend and that modulation of protein
phosphorylation is one of the mechanisms involved in this regulation.