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Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo
08:29

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo

Published on: October 30, 2014

MicroRNA processing pathway regulates olfactory neuron morphogenesis.

Daniela Berdnik1, Audrey P Fan, Christopher J Potter

  • 1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|November 18, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The microRNA (miRNA) processing pathway, involving Pasha and Dicer-1, is crucial for wiring specificity in Drosophila olfactory neurons. Mutations disrupt neuronal connections, highlighting miRNA

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Quadruple Immunostaining of the Olfactory Bulb for Visualization of Olfactory Sensory Axon Molecular Identity Codes
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Rapid Dissection and Dissociation of the Mouse Olfactory Epithelium for Single-Nucleus Suspensions
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Rapid Dissection and Dissociation of the Mouse Olfactory Epithelium for Single-Nucleus Suspensions

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Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo
08:29

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Quadruple Immunostaining of the Olfactory Bulb for Visualization of Olfactory Sensory Axon Molecular Identity Codes
06:32

Quadruple Immunostaining of the Olfactory Bulb for Visualization of Olfactory Sensory Axon Molecular Identity Codes

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Rapid Dissection and Dissociation of the Mouse Olfactory Epithelium for Single-Nucleus Suspensions
03:42

Rapid Dissection and Dissociation of the Mouse Olfactory Epithelium for Single-Nucleus Suspensions

Published on: August 1, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression.
  • The miRNA processing pathway involves sequential enzymatic steps including Drosha, Dicer, and Argonautes.
  • Neuronal wiring specificity in the olfactory system relies on precise targeting of dendrites and axons.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify genetic factors involved in the wiring specificity of Drosophila olfactory projection neurons (PNs).
  • To investigate the role of the miRNA processing pathway in neuronal development and connectivity.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a forward genetic screen to identify mutations affecting PN wiring.
  • Analyzed the function of identified genes, Pasha and Dicer-1, in Drosophila olfactory system development.
  • Utilized genetic mutations and observed effects on dendrite and axon targeting in postmitotic neurons.

Main Results:

  • Identified mutations in Pasha and Dicer-1, components of the miRNA pathway, disrupt PN wiring specificity.
  • pasha and Dicer-1 mutants exhibit specific defects in PN dendrite targeting and axonal termination.
  • Pasha and Dicer-1 function cell-autonomously in postmitotic neurons to regulate neuronal morphogenesis, while Argonaute proteins are not essential.

Conclusions:

  • The miRNA processing pathway, specifically Pasha and Dicer-1, plays a critical role in establishing wiring specificity in the nervous system.
  • These findings reveal a novel function for miRNA biogenesis components in neuronal development beyond gene regulation.