Molecular bases of odor discrimination: Reconstitution of olfactory receptors that recognize overlapping sets of odorants.

摘要: The vertebrate olfactory system discriminates a wide variety of odorants by relaying coded information from sensory neurons in the epithelium to cortical areas brain. Recent studies have shown that first step odor discrimination is mediated ∼1000 distinct receptors, which comprise largest family G-protein-coupled receptors. In present study, we used Ca2+ imaging and single-cell reverse transcription-PCR techniques identify mouse responding an odorant subsequently clone receptor gene responsive cell. functionally cloned receptors were expressed heterologous systems, demonstrating structurally related recognized overlapping sets with affinities specificities. Our results provide direct evidence for existence code identities different are specified combinations possess unique molecular receptive ranges. We further demonstrate changes concentration. Finally, show human embryonic kidney 293 cells couple stimulatory G-proteins such as Gαolf, resulting odorant-dependent increases cAMP. Odor thus determined differences ranges together encode specific molecules.