Nine-exon odorant receptors are enriched in the antennae of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile

Nestmate recognition in ants is thought to be regulated through the sensation of cuticular hydrocarbons by odorant receptors (ORs) in the antennae.  In Argentine ants, the ORs regulating nestmate recognition are thought to be present in a clade of nine-exon odorant receptors.  To narrow down the list of potential ORs, comparative transcriptomics were conducted on the antennae, head, thorax, and legs of Argentine ant workers.  We have identified a set of twenty-one nine-exon odorant receptors enriched in the antennae compared to the other tissues, allowing for downstream verification they are capable of detecting Argentine ant cuticular hydrocarbons.

down the list of potential ORs, comparative transcriptomics were conducted

on the antennae, head, thorax, and legs of Argentine ant workers. We have

identified a set of [X] nine-exon odorant receptors enriched in the antennae

compared to the other tissues, allowing for downstream verification they are

capable of detecting Argentine ant cuticular hydrocarbons.