• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1 s.129
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• pp.1-6
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• 2005

This research was performed to investigate the expression patterns of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) migrating hydrophobic semiochemicals such as pheromone to the olfactory receptors in a termite (Reticulitermes speratus). Antennas and legs were cut from soldier and worker termites, respectively, and RT-PCR were conducted to investigate the existence of the OBPs reported up to now. Blast search suggested that the OBPs obtained were highly homologues of the OBPs reported. In worker termites, OBP-1 was expressed in both antennas and legs, OBP-2 and OBP-3 were observed only in antennas. And in soldier termites, OBP-1 was shown in both antennas and legs, OBP-2 were not observed, and OBP-3 was found in both antennas and legs. The differences of expression patterns of OBPs between worker and soldier termites may be explained by their specialized peculiarity.