METHODS TO UTILIZE INVERTEBRATE CHEMOSENSORY PROTEINS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES

This invention provides methods and compositions for using chemosensory proteins derived from invertebrates to bind or detect specific compounds. Applications include use as detector elements in biosensors or other sensory devices and purification or concentration devices. Examples of proteins involved in the chemosensory pathway include odorant binding proteins (OBPs), sensory appendage proteins (SAPs), orthologs of the Drosophila melanogaster Takeout protein (TOLs), odorant or gustatory receptors (ORs, GRs, or collectively GPCRs), other serpentine receptors, and odorant degrading enzymes (ODEs). These classes of proteins participate in both the olfactory and gustatory sensory systems in invertebrates. The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying analytes such as effectors, binding partners, or other molecules that interact with the proteins involved in the chemosensory pathway. The method for sensor applications consists of linking a detection mechanism with one or more invertebrate chemosensory protein(s) so that a measurable signal is generated when an analyte such as ligand or binding partner to the chemosensory protein(s) is present. The method for the purification applications involves utilizing chemosensory proteins capable of isolating specific analytes in complex mixtures. Thus, the invention provides methods to identify the presence of specific analytes, and also to exclude or include specific analytes from a process or mixture.