Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay
09:11

Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay

Published on: October 2, 2017

Olfactory receptor localization and function: an emerging role for GPCR heterodimerization

Chris Hague1, Randy A Hall, Kenneth P Minneman

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

Molecular Interventions
|December 24, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Olfactory receptors require heterodimerization with beta2-adrenergic receptors for cell surface expression. This breakthrough may solve a long-standing problem in olfactory receptor research.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Olfactory receptors (ORs) are crucial for smell but notoriously difficult to express on cell surfaces in isolation.
  • Previous attempts to study ORs in heterologous systems have been hindered by their failure to reach the cell surface.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism behind the cell surface expression of olfactory receptors.
  • To identify factors essential for functional olfactory receptor presentation.

Main Methods:

  • Studying the co-expression of olfactory receptors with beta2-adrenergic receptors in heterologous systems.
  • Utilizing knockout and functional approaches in Drosophila research.

Main Results:

  • Heterodimerization of olfactory receptors with beta2-adrenergic receptors facilitates their surface expression.
  • Independent research in Drosophila supports the necessity of heterodimerization for OR surface localization.

Conclusions:

  • Heterodimerization is essential for the cell surface expression of olfactory receptors.
  • These findings offer a potential solution to a persistent challenge in olfactory research, enabling further molecular studies.

More Related Videos

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase09:53

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Published on: April 23, 2019

Assaying Surface Expression of Chemosensory Receptors in Heterologous Cells04:55

Assaying Surface Expression of Chemosensory Receptors in Heterologous Cells

Published on: February 23, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors01:30

Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors

G Protein–Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to various stimuli. GPCRs regulate critical physiological pathways and are excellent drug targets for treating diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, depression, or Alzheimer's. Nearly 35% of approved drugs implement their therapeutic effects by selectively interacting with specific GPCRs.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or...
G Protein-coupled Receptors01:15

G Protein-coupled Receptors

G Protein-Coupled Receptors or GPCRs are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to sensory stimuli such as light, odors, hormones, cytokines, or neurotransmitters.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
G Protein-coupled Receptors01:15

G Protein-coupled Receptors

G Protein-Coupled Receptors or GPCRs are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to sensory stimuli such as light, odors, hormones, cytokines, or neurotransmitters.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory organs,...
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.