# Aminophospholipid Signaling in Olfactory Transduction

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $340,825

## Abstract

The broad long-term objective of this research is to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying
detection of volatile odorants and pheromones in Drosophila melanogaster. This work is significant because
insects transmit devastating diseases to humans and they use olfaction to find hosts and mates.
Understanding these mechanisms will facilitate new approaches for its disruption. Drosophila is an excellent
model system to reveal mechanisms underlying olfaction due to its wealth of genetic tools, including unbiased
genetics screens. We recently found lipid translocation, mediated by the phosphatidylserine (PS) flippase
dATP8B, is essential for normal odorant sensitivity. We are now leveraging this discovery to identify the
components and pathways underlying lipid translocation and its relation to odorant sensitivity. This work
represents a new path of investigation.
 Using a genetic screen, we identified a protein kinase C that genetically interacts with dATP8B and appears
to transduce most of the effects of PS localization. We propose experiments to decipher how this kinase
impacts olfaction. Aim 1 is to explore the role of PKC98E in olfaction by characterizing its localization in
olfactory neurons, and evaluating the phenotype of null and dominant alleles to analyze the olfactory
consequences. Aim 2 explores the role of conserved PKC phosphorylation sites in ORCO on olfactory
sensitivity and receptor trafficking, and whether phosphorylation is odorant-dependent in vivo. Aim 3 is to
identify additional components involved in this process from a pool of 35 pre-selected candidates to gain a
more complete understanding of this mechanism. Successful completion of these aims will significantly
advance our understanding of insect olfaction and may provide exciting insights into the role of lipid
translocation in modulating olfactory signal transduction.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10055765
- **Project number:** 5R01DC015230-05
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Dean P. Smith
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $340,825
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-12-01 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10055765

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10055765, Aminophospholipid Signaling in Olfactory Transduction (5R01DC015230-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10055765. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*