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Exploring the Olfactory Recognition of Elaeagnus angustifolia Volatiles in Anoplophora glabripennis Through Antennal Transcriptome Analysis and Molecular Characterization of Classic OBPs
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Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests of Gansu Province, College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
2
Phytotoxicity Research Department, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Cairo 12618, Egypt
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2026, 17(7), 666; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17070666 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 17 May 2026
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Revised: 13 June 2026
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Accepted: 18 June 2026
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Published: 25 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Molecular Biology: From Bioinformatics to Pest Management Applications)
Simple Summary
The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is a highly destructive wood-boring pest that has spread to over 20 countries, causing severe damage to forest ecosystems in affected regions. Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) has a natural “dead-end trap” against this pest: it attracts A. glabripennis to feed and lay eggs but then produces a sticky gum that traps and kills the eggs before they can hatch. We found that three specific proteins in A. glabripennis antennae likely play key roles as “scent detectors” in recognizing the smell of E. angustifolia. These proteins can bind to many different scent molecules released by E. angustifolia, and one key molecule shows a high binding affinity. These findings provide new molecular insights into the olfactory basis of this natural trap-tree system and offer candidate targets for future functional tests and eco-friendly pest control.
Abstract
Anoplophora glabripennis is a destructive forest pest. Elaeagnus angustifolia attracts A. glabripennis for feeding and oviposition, but its gum encapsulates and kills the eggs, functioning as a dead-end trap tree. However, the olfactory mechanisms by which A. glabripennis recognizes E. angustifolia volatiles remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the antennal transcriptome of female adult A. glabripennis exposed to E. angustifolia volatiles. Ten OBP genes were significantly up-regulated in response to the volatiles, including six Classic OBPs and four Minus-C OBPs (log2 fold changes: 1.02–3.01). qRT-PCR showed AglaOBP1/2/3 were highly and specifically expressed in the antennae, suggesting key olfactory roles. Static molecular docking showed that all three OBPs bound 22 E. angustifolia volatiles, each displaying the highest affinity for (+)-Longifolene, with AglaOBP1 exhibiting the strongest binding. Nevertheless, 200 ns MD simulations revealed a shift: the AglaOBP3–(+)-Longifolene complex displayed the greatest structural stability, not AglaOBP1. MM/PBSA corrected the initial docking screen and confirmed that AglaOBP3 had the strongest thermodynamic binding affinity for (+)-Longifolene (ΔGbind = −30.94 ± 2.57 kcal·mol−1). This study provides novel molecular insights into the olfactory recognition of E. angustifolia volatiles in A. glabripennis, laying a foundation for future functional validation and sustainable pest management.
