An ammonium transporter is a non-canonical olfactory receptor for ammonia

Abstract

Two families of ligand-gated ion channels function as olfactory receptors in insects. Here, we show that these canonical olfactory receptors are not necessary for responses to ammonia, a key ecological odor that is attractive to many insects including disease vectors and agricultural pests. Instead, we show that a member of the ancient electrogenic ammonium transporter family, Amt, is a new type of olfactory receptor. We report two hitherto unidentified olfactory neuron populations that mediate neuronal and behavioral responses to ammonia. Their endogenous ammonia responses are Amt-dependent, and ectopic expression of either Drosophila or Anopheles Amt confers ammonia sensitivity. Amt is the first transporter known to function as an olfactory receptor in animals, and its role may be conserved across insect species.