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<p>Sex pheromones play a central role in regulating animal behavior and reproduction. In insects, these signals are perceived through specialized odorant receptors (ORs) that mediate species-specific communication and safeguard genetic integrity. However, the structural basis of sex pheromone detection remains largely unresolved. Here, we identified two ORs in the pea aphid <i>Acyrthosiphon pisum</i>, along with the conserved OR co-receptor (Orco), which together mediate recognition of the pheromone components nepetalactone and nepetalactol. Functional assays demonstrated that <i>Ap</i>OR21–Orco and <i>Ap</i>OR22–Orco specifically respond to nepetalactol and nepetalactone, respectively. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we resolved the structure of the <i>Ap</i>OR22–Orco complex in three states — unbound closed, nepetalactone-bound closed, and nepetalactone-bound open — revealing a heterotetrameric ion channel formed by one <i>Ap</i>OR22 and three <i>Ap</i>Orco subunits. Ligand binding to <i>Ap</i>OR22 triggers conformational rearrangements that induce asymmetric pore dilation, thereby enabling ion conduction. Together, these results provide a mechanistic framework for understanding sex pheromone perception in insects and establish a structural foundation for the rational development of environmentally sustainable pest-control strategies.</p>

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Structural basis of sex pheromone detection in aphids

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月22日

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  • Zhi Dong,
  • Yidong Wang,
  • Ying Tian,
  • Zeyuan Guan,
  • Minghui Bai,
  • Bo Zhang,
  • Zhongqiang Jia,
  • Jinan Wu,
  • Song Cao,
  • Zhou Gong,
  • Xincheng Zhao,
  • Weihua Ma,
  • Bing Wang,
  • Guirong Wang,
  • Ping Yin

摘要

Sex pheromones play a central role in regulating animal behavior and reproduction. In insects, these signals are perceived through specialized odorant receptors (ORs) that mediate species-specific communication and safeguard genetic integrity. However, the structural basis of sex pheromone detection remains largely unresolved. Here, we identified two ORs in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, along with the conserved OR co-receptor (Orco), which together mediate recognition of the pheromone components nepetalactone and nepetalactol. Functional assays demonstrated that ApOR21–Orco and ApOR22–Orco specifically respond to nepetalactol and nepetalactone, respectively. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we resolved the structure of the ApOR22–Orco complex in three states — unbound closed, nepetalactone-bound closed, and nepetalactone-bound open — revealing a heterotetrameric ion channel formed by one ApOR22 and three ApOrco subunits. Ligand binding to ApOR22 triggers conformational rearrangements that induce asymmetric pore dilation, thereby enabling ion conduction. Together, these results provide a mechanistic framework for understanding sex pheromone perception in insects and establish a structural foundation for the rational development of environmentally sustainable pest-control strategies.