The insect chemoreceptor superfamily consists of the large families of odorant (Or) and gustatory (Gr) receptors. Comparisons between Drosophila melanogaster and D. pseudoobscura reveal how they evolve over relatively short terms (±25Myr). Comparisons with Anopheles gambiae (±250Myr) reveal only a few orthologs and much lineage-specific gene subfamily expansion. Comparisons with Apis mellifera (±300Myr) show almost exclusively lineage-specific gene subfamily expansions. Finally five gur genes encoding distantly related potential 7TM GPCR chemoreceptors have been identified in the Caenorhabditis nematode genomes, suggesting that this chemoreceptor superfamily is as old as the Ecdysozoa or perhaps the protostomes. Specific examples concerning candidate sugar and carbon dioxide receptors will be discussed.
Species 1: Diptera Drosophilidae Drosophila pseudoobscura (vinegar fly)
Species 2: Diptera Culicidae Anopheles gambiae (African malaria mosquito)
Species 3: Hymenoptera Apidae Apis mellifera (European honey bee)
Keywords: odorant receptors, gustatory receptors
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