Summary
The water receptor in the “large” labellar taste hairs ofProtophormia terraenovae was investigated with electrophysiological methods. Total inhibition of the water receptor activity, achieved by sodium citrate, can be undone by certain sugars to different degrees. The inhibition by salt as well as the “reactivation” by D-fructose occur with Hill-coefficients greater 2, indicating strong positive cooperativity of the receptor membrane. The water receptor reacts highly specific: Of 16 sugars tested only D-fructose, D-fucose, and D-galactose are potent “reactivators”, while other monosaccharides as well as oligosaccharides and glucosides are less or not effective.
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We thank Prof. Dr. K. Hansen for valuable discussions and for critical reading of the manuscript. We are also greatly indebted to Miss S. Dietz and Mrs. H.Kübler for technical assistance. The work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Schwerpunktprogramm Rezeptorphysiologie).
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Wieczorek, H., Köppl, R. Effect of sugars on the labellar water receptor of the fly. J. Comp. Physiol. 126, 131–136 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666365
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666365