Dr Aniruddha Agnihotri1, Dr Wei Xu1

1Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia

Biography:

With a deep-rooted passion for deciphering the intricacies of molecular biology, I am currently immersed in groundbreaking research as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Dr. Wei Xu's research group at Murdoch University. My focus lies in unravelling the molecular components underlying the fascinating chemosensory systems of mosquitoes, aiming to combat vector-borne diseases through innovative scientific inquiry.

My journey began at Murdoch University, where I earned my doctoral degree in 2022, specializing in the recombinant expression, and structural and functional characterization of Odorant Binding Proteins (OBP) in insects. This foundational experience equipped me with a robust skill set in molecular biology, biochemistry, and protein chemistry, honed over more than 12 years of dedicated research endeavours. As the first author of multiple influential research articles and reviews spanning diverse facets of insect biology, I take pride in contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge in my field.

Abstract:

In the realm of insect olfaction, Odorant Binding Proteins (OBPs) play a pivotal role in the capture and transfer of hydrophobic volatile compounds from the ambient air to receptors inside the sensory organs. To study these proteins, they are often expressed in bacterial hosts, which is then almost invariably followed by in-vitro refolding to give the proteins their proper structural conformation and therefore functionality. However, despite their critical role, a limited number of comprehensive studies have systematically explored and compared different refolding methodologies for the insect OBPs, often leaving questions regarding the effectiveness of these approaches unanswered.

This research seeks to address this knowledge gap by conducting a thorough comparative analysis of various refolding methods, including four well-established techniques and a novel approach developed in this study. The study centers on three distinct OBPs derived from Helicoverpa armigera, namely HarmOBP2, HarmOBP5, and HarmGOBP2, selected as representative models. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive examination of insect OBP refolding, coupled with structural characterization. The results underscore the significance of understanding and optimizing the refolding of recombinant OBP, thereby enhancing the reliability and applicability of these proteins in diverse scientific and technological contexts.

In conclusion, this research contributes to our understanding of insect OBP refolding, emphasizing the importance of methodological scrutiny, and promises to facilitate the utilization of these proteins in future applications while shedding light on the fascinating mechanisms underlying insect sensory perception.