# Cellular and molecular basis of ammonia detection in Drosophila

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS · 2020 · $241,500

## Abstract

Abstract
Hematophagous insect vectors of disease locate their human targets in large part through chemosensory-
driven behaviors. Development of new insect control measures will require an improved understanding of the
molecular and cellular basis underlying their olfactory capabilities. Here, we propose to investigate the
mechanisms underlying the ability of insects to detect ammonia, an odor released by humans and attractive to
both insect vectors of human disease and non-hematophagous insects. We utilize Drosophila as a genetic
model organism due to its wealth of genetic tools that allow us to dissect the fine workings of the system.
Using our newly developed genetic tools, we have identified a previously unknown fourth neuron in strongly
ammonia sensitive ac1 sensilla. The scientific premise of this proposal is that ammonia responses are
mediated by these newly identified Rh50+ neurons and do not depend on the previously implicated IR92a odor
receptors or IR92a+ neurons. In Aim 1, we propose to characterize the odor response profile of Rh50+ neurons
and determine which neuron mediates electrophysiological and behavioral responses to ammonia. In Aim 2,
we will examine whether the ammonia sensitivity of Rh50+ neurons is mediated by a novel type of odor
receptor unrelated to the two previously identified odor receptor families in insects. Given the highly conserved
nature of this putative receptor and its expression in the antenna of all insect species we have examined, we
expect that the proposed findings regarding such ammonia-sensitive neurons and receptors in Drosophila will
translate to other insect species, including vectors of human disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9864061
- **Project number:** 5R21DC017868-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen Anne Menuz
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $241,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-03-01 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9864061

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9864061, Cellular and molecular basis of ammonia detection in Drosophila (5R21DC017868-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9864061. Licensed CC0.

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