Odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are regarded as carriers of pheromones and odorants in insect chemoreception. These proteins are typically located in antennae, mouth organs and other chemosensory structures; however, members of both classes of proteins have been detected recently in other parts of the body and various functions have been proposed. The best studied of these non‐sensory tasks is performed in pheromone glands, where OBPs and CSPs solubilise hydrophobic semiochemicals and assist their controlled release into the environment. In some cases the same proteins are expressed in antennae and pheromone glands, thus performing a dual role in receiving and broadcasting the same chemical message. Several reports have described OBPs and CSPs in reproductive organs. Some of these proteins are male specific and are transferred to females during mating. They likely carry semiochemicals with different proposed roles, from inhibiting other males from approaching mated females, to marking fertilized eggs, but further experimental evidence is still needed. Before being discovered in insects, the presence of binding proteins in pheromone glands and reproductive organs was widely reported in mammals, where vertebrate OBPs, structurally different from OBPs of insects and belonging to the lipocalin superfamily, are abundant in rodent urine, pig saliva and vaginal discharge of the hamster, as well as in the seminal fluid of rabbits. In at least four cases CSPs have been reported to promote development and regeneration: in embryo maturation in the honeybee, limb regeneration in the cockroach, ecdysis in larvae of fire ants and in promoting phase shift in locusts. Both OBPs and CSPs are also important in nutrition as solubilisers of lipids and other essential components of the diet. Particularly interesting is the affinity for carotenoids of CSPs abundantly secreted in the proboscis of moths and butterflies and the occurrence of the same (or very similar CSPs) in the eyes of the same insects. A role as a carrier of visual pigments for these proteins in insects parallels that of retinol‐binding protein in vertebrates, a lipocalin structurally related to OBPs of vertebrates. Other functions of OBPs and CSPs include anti‐inflammatory action in haematophagous insects, resistance to insecticides and eggshell formation. Such multiplicity of roles and the high success of both classes of proteins in being adapted to different situations is likely related to their stable scaffolding determining excellent stability to temperature, proteolysis and denaturing agents. The wide versatility of both OBPs and CSPs in nature has suggested several different uses for these proteins in biotechnological applications, from biosensors for odours to scavengers for pollutants and controlled releasers of chemicals in the environment.

中文翻译：

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超越化学感受：昆虫中可溶性嗅觉蛋白的多种任务

气味结合蛋白（OBPs）和化学感应蛋白（CSPs）被认为是昆虫化学感受中信息素和气味剂的载体。这些蛋白质通常位于触角、口腔器官和其他化学感应结构中；然而，最近在身体的其他部位检测到这两类蛋白质的成员，并提出了各种功能。对这些非感觉任务的最佳研究是在信息素腺中进行的，其中 OBP 和 CSP 溶解疏水性化学信息素并帮助它们受控释放到环境中。在某些情况下，相同的蛋白质在触角和信息素腺体中表达，从而在接收和传播相同的化学信息方面发挥双重作用。一些报告描述了生殖器官中的 OBP 和 CSP。其中一些蛋白质是雄性特异性的，并在交配期间转移给雌性。它们可能携带具有不同作用的信息素，从抑制其他雄性接近交配的雌性，到标记受精卵，但仍需要进一步的实验证据。在昆虫中被发现之前，信息素腺体和生殖器官中结合蛋白的存在在哺乳动物中被广泛报道，其中脊椎动物的 OBPs 在结构上与昆虫的 OBPs 不同，属于脂质运载蛋白超家族，在啮齿动物的尿液、猪唾液和阴道中含量丰富。仓鼠的排泄物，以及兔子的精液。据报道，至少在四种情况下，CSP 可促进发育和再生：蜜蜂的胚胎成熟、蟑螂的肢体再生、火蚁幼虫的蜕皮和促进蝗虫的相移。OBPs 和 CSPs 在营养方面也很重要，作为脂质和饮食中其他必需成分的增溶剂。特别有趣的是飞蛾和蝴蝶的长鼻中大量分泌的 CSP 对类胡萝卜素的亲和力，以及相同（或非常相似）的 CSP 在相同昆虫的眼睛中的出现。作为这些蛋白质在昆虫中的视觉色素载体的作用与脊椎动物中视黄醇结合蛋白的作用相似，视黄醇结合蛋白是一种结构上与脊椎动物 OBP 相关的脂质运载蛋白。OBPs 和 CSPs 的其他功能包括对吸血昆虫的抗炎作用、对杀虫剂的抗性和蛋壳形成。两类蛋白质在适应不同情况方面的这种多重作用和高度成功可能与它们的稳定支架有关，这些支架决定了对温度、蛋白水解和变性剂的优异稳定性。OBPs 和 CSPs 在自然界中的广泛用途表明这些蛋白质在生物技术应用中有几种不同的用途，从气味的生物传感器到污染物的清除剂和环境中化学物质的受控释放剂。