Abstract: This invention provides methods and compositions for using chemosensory proteins derived from invertebrates to bind or detect specific compounds. Applications include use as detector elements in biosensors or other sensory devices and purification or concentration devices. Examples of proteins involved in the chemosensory pathway include odorant binding proteins (OBPs), sensory appendage proteins (SAPs), orthologs of the Drosophila melanogaster Takeout protein (TOLs), odorant or gustatory receptors (ORs, GRs, or collectively GPCRs), other serpentine receptors, and odorant degrading enzymes (ODEs). These classes of proteins participate in both the olfactory and gustatory sensory systems in invertebrates. The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying analytes such as effectors, binding partners, or other molecules that interact with the proteins involved in the chemosensory pathway.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and compositions for identifying proteins involved in the olfactory pathway, for example G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and proteins or chemicals that can interact with these receptors, including but not limited to agonists or antagonists of these receptors. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and other proteins involved in olfaction can also be isolated and characterized. Generally, the method consists of isolating gene products specifically expressed in the tissue of interest, and assaying function. This invention also provides methods of use of the identified agonists and antagonists for controlling insect feeding and breeding behavior, eliminating odors, detecting the presence of small molecules in the air, and the like.