# Towards molecular mechanisms of invertebrate Gustatory Receptors

> **NIH NIH R21** · BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $255,251

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Invertebrate Gustatory Receptors (GRs) are a large and evolutionarily diverse family of sensory receptors
known to play important roles in invertebrate taste, smell and thermotransduction. Given the importance of
these sensory modalities in host-seeking behavior in important humand disease vectors like mosquitoes, GR
family members serve as potentially powerful targets for vector control agents. However, little is known about
GR structure and function. We propose a physiological and biochemical analysis of members of two GR
subfamilies: Gr43a and Gr28bD. These initial studies will serve as a precursor for a subsequent R01 to carry
out structural and functional analyses of these GRs.
We propose to achieve these goals in two aims:
Aim #1: Identify and physiologically characterize multiple orthologs of Gr43a and Gr28bD.
Unlike most GRs, Gr43a and Gr28bD orthologs can be functionally characterized in heterologous cells. In aim
1.a., we will express orthologs of these GRs from additional insect species, including disease vectors and
extremophiles, in heterologous cells and characterize their physiological properties. This will enable a
comparative analysis of sequence and function among each receptor class.
Aim #2: Biochemically characterize multiple Gr43a and Gr28bD orthologs. We find Gr43a and
Gr28bD orthologs can be partially purified from heterologous cells. In aim 2, we will expand this approach to
incorporate additional orthologs characterized in aim 1 and optimize our purification protocol and explore key
properties including oligomeric state and thermal stability in various membrane mimics. This will provide
important biochemical information about GR complexes and identify orthologs best suited for subsequent
structural analysis.
The physiological characterization of multiple Gr43a and Gr28bD orthologs will enable direct examination of
evolutionary variation and conservation in GR family function. The expression and purification of multiple
family members will provide multiple candidates for biochemistry and structural determination, maximizing
the likelihood of success of subsequent GR structural determinations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9916651
- **Project number:** 1R21DC018497-01
- **Recipient organization:** BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** RACHELLE GAUDET
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $255,251
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9916651

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9916651, Towards molecular mechanisms of invertebrate Gustatory Receptors (1R21DC018497-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9916651. Licensed CC0.

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