The odorant receptors (ORs) make up the largest gene family in mammals. Each olfactory sensory neuron chooses just one OR from the more than 1000 possibilities encoded in the genome and transcribes it from just one allele. This process generates great neuronal diversity and forms the basis for the development and logic of the olfactory circuit between the nose and the brain. The mechanism behind this monoallelic regulation has been the subject of intense speculation and increasing experimental investigation, yet remains enigmatic. Recent genetic experiments have brought the outlines of the process into sharper relief, identifying a feedback mechanism in which the first odorant receptor expressed, generates a signal that stabilizes its choice, thus maintaining singular selection. In the absence of this signal, the olfactory neuron re-enters the selection process and switches to choose an alternate OR. Irreversible genetic changes in the nuclei of olfactory neurons do not accompany OR selection, which must therefore be initiated by an epigenetic process that may involve a stochastic mechanism.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddi105 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing of Zebrafish Olfactory Epithelium Identifies Odor-Responsive Candidate Olfactory Receptors.
Genes Cells
January 2025
Laboratory for Systems Molecular Ethology, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan.
Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful method to comprehensively overlook gene expression profiles of individual cells in various tissues, providing fundamental datasets for classification of cell types and further functional analyses. Here we adopted scRNA-seq analysis for the zebrafish olfactory sensory neurons which respond to water-borne odorants and pheromones to elicit various behaviors crucial for survival and species preservation. Firstly, a single-cell dissociation procedure of the zebrafish olfactory rosettes was optimized by using cold-active protease, minimizing artifactual neuronal activation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDecoding Deception: The binding affinity of cuttlefish ink on shark smell receptors.
G3 (Bethesda)
January 2025
University College Dublin, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Chemical signaling can play a crucial role in predator-prey dynamics. Here, we present evidence that ink from the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) targets olfactory receptor proteins in shark, potentially acting as a predator deterrence. We apply in silico 3D docking analysis to investigate the binding affinity of various odorant molecules to shark olfactory receptors of two shark species: cloudy catshark (Scyliorhinus torazame) and white shark (Carcharodon carcharias).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Cell-Type-Specific Roles of Human Odorant Receptors in Glioblastoma and the Tumor Microenvironment.
Int J Mol Sci
December 2024
Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea.
Odorant receptors (ORs), which constitute approximately 50% of all human G protein-coupled receptors, are increasingly recognized for their diverse roles beyond odor perception, including functions in various pathological conditions like brain diseases and cancers. However, the roles of ORs in glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive primary brain tumor with a median survival of only 15 months, remain largely unexplored. Here, we performed an integrated transcriptomic analysis combining The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA-seq and single-cell RNA sequencing data from GBM patients to uncover cell-type-specific roles of ORs within the tumor and its microenvironment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOlfactory Receptors and Aortic Aneurysm: Review of Disease Pathways.
J Clin Med
December 2024
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University General Hospital, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Aortic aneurysm, the pathological dilatation of the aorta at distinct locations, can be attributed to many different genetic and environmental factors. The resulting pathobiological disturbances generate a complex interplay of processes affecting cells and extracellular molecules of the tunica interna, media and externa. In short, aortic aneurysm can affect processes involving the extracellular matrix, lipid trafficking/atherosclerosis, vascular smooth muscle cells, inflammation, platelets and intraluminal thrombus formation, as well as various endothelial functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentification of miRNAs Involved in Olfactory Regulation in Antennae of Beet Webworm, (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).
Life (Basel)
December 2024
Key Laboratory of Biohazard Monitoring, Green Prevention and Control for Artificial Grassland, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Grassland Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China.
The beet webworm, , is a typical migratory pest. Although miRNAs participate in many physiological functions, little is known about the functions of miRNAs in olfactory regulation. In this study, 1120 (869 known and 251 novel) miRNAs were identified in the antennae of by using high-throughput sequencing technology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!