Unraveling the activation mechanism of olfactory receptors. Towards the future of structure odor relationships

Unraveling the activation mechanism of olfactory receptors. Towards the future of structure odor relationships. 14. Weurman flavour research symposium

Functional analysis of broadly tuned odorant receptors expressed in the mouse septal organ through patch-clamp recordings in an intact preparation and luciferase assay in a heterologous expression system

The septal organ (SO) is a small island of olfactory epithelium located at the ventral base of the nasal septum. SO neurons express identified odorant receptors, but its function remains unknown. Using perforated patch clamp recordings, we investigated the response properties of SO neurons in the intact epithelium of mice to a panel of 45 odorants or mixtures. Out of 328 neurons tested, approximately 70% responded to odor stimulation. Among the responsive neurons, 72.5 % responded to multiple odorants. Responding neurons were tested with increasing concentrations of 3 odorants (octanoic acid, (+) camphor, amylacetate) and a mixture (fox urine). Dose-response curves show nanomolar threshold …

G-protein-coupled odorant receptors underlie mechanosensitivity in olfactory sensory neurons

G-protein-coupled odorant receptors underlie mechanosensitivity in olfactory sensory neurons. 34. annual meeting - Association for chemoreception sciences (AChemS)

G protein-coupled odorant receptors underlie mechanosensitivity in mammalian olfactory sensory neurons

Mechanosensitive cells are essential for organisms to sense the external and internal environments, and a variety of molecules have been implicated as mechanical sensors. Here we report that odorant receptors (ORs), a large family of G protein-coupled receptors, underlie the responses to both chemical and mechanical stimuli in mouse olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). Genetic ablation of key signaling proteins in odor transduction or disruption of OR–G protein coupling eliminates mechanical responses. Curiously, OSNs expressing different OR types display significantly different responses to mechanical stimuli. Genetic swap of putatively mechanosensitive ORs abolishes or reduces mechanical res…

Olfactory receptors in the septal organ.

International audience

Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the active and inactive states of olfactory receptors

Broad tuning and high sensitivity of septal organ neurons in response to odorants

Odorant response properties of septal organ neurons: broad tuning and high sensitivity

International audience

Odor-induced electrical and calcium signals from olfactory sensory neurons in situ

Electrophysiological recording and optical imaging enable the characterization of membrane and odorant response properties of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in the nasal neuroepithelium. Here we describe a method to record the responses of mammalian OSNs to odorant stimulations in an ex vivo preparation of intact olfactory epithelium. The responses of individual OSNs with defined odorant receptor types can be monitored via patch-clamp recording or calcium imaging.