Molecular and Pharmacological Characterization of β-Adrenergic-like Octopamine Receptors in the Endoparasitoid Cotesia chilonis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Octopamine (OA) is structurally and functionally similar to adrenaline/noradrenaline in vertebrates, and OA modulates diverse physiological and behavioral processes in invertebrates. OA exerts its actions by binding to specific octopamine receptors (OARs). Functional and pharmacological characterization of OARs have been investigated in several insects. However, the literature on OARs is scarce for parasitoids. Here we cloned three beta-adrenergic-like OARs (CcOct beta Rs) from Cotesia chilonis. CcOct beta Rs share high similarity with their own orthologous receptors. The transcript levels of CcOct beta Rs were varied in different tissues. When heterologously expressed in CHO-K1 cells, CcOct beta Rs induced cAMP production, and were dose-dependently activated by OA, TA and putative octopaminergic agonists. Their activities were inhibited by potential antagonists and were most efficiently blocked by epinastine. Our study offers important information about the molecular and pharmacological properties of beta-adrenergic-like OARs from C. chilonis that will provide the basis to reveal the contribution of individual receptors to the physiological processes and behaviors in parasitoids.

Automated summary

Octopamine is structurally and functionally similar to adrenaline/noradrenaline in vertebrates, but it modulates diverse physiological and behavioral processes in invertebrates. The study cloned beta-adrenergic-like octopamine receptors (CcOct beta Rs) from Cotesia chilonis, revealing varied transcript levels in different tissues and activation by OA and other agonists in heterologous expression. These findings offer important insights into the molecular and pharmacological properties of the receptors in parasitoids.