Insect odorant receptors: Function and regulation

Insect odorant receptors (ORs) are related to the gustatory receptor family and have probably evolved with the terrestrialization of insects. They form heteromeric ligand-gated cation channels composed of odor-specific OR proteins and a co-receptor protein (Orco). This chapter describes what is currently known about the functional properties of ORs, and how their performance can adapt to meet the environmental and ecological challenges that insects face while exploring their odor worlds.