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Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

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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.
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Osmoregulation in Insects01:47

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Malpighian tubules are specialized structures found in the digestive systems of many arthropods, including most insects, that handle excretion and osmoregulation. The tubules are typically arranged in pairs and have a convoluted structure that increases their surface area.
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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.
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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

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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...
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Single Sensillum Recordings for Locust Palp Sensilla Basiconica
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Odorant-binding proteins in insects.

Jing-Jiang Zhou1

  • 1Centre for Sustainable Pest and Disease Management, Insect Molecular Biology Group, Biological Chemistry Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK.

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|September 14, 2010
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Insect chemoreception remains a mystery, particularly how hydrophobic odorants reach sensory neurons. This review explores odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and their role in insect olfaction and taste.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Insect chemoreception mechanisms are increasingly understood with receptor protein discovery.
  • The transport of hydrophobic odorants to insect sensory neurons and receptors in vivo remains unclear.
  • The physiological function of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), despite extensive research, is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the structural properties of insect odorant-binding proteins (OBPs).
  • To examine the binding capabilities of OBPs with pheromones and other small ligands.
  • To discuss current models and ideas regarding the role of OBPs in insect chemoreception.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of structural and biochemical data on insect OBPs.
  • Analysis of OBP subclasses and their ligand-binding specificities.
  • Synthesis of current hypotheses on OBP function in chemosensory pathways.

Main Results:

  • Insect OBPs exhibit diverse structural subclasses.
  • OBPs demonstrate binding affinities for pheromones and various small hydrophobic molecules.
  • Evidence suggests OBPs play a crucial role in solubilizing and transporting odorants.

Conclusions:

  • Odorant-binding proteins are key mediators in insect chemoreception, facilitating odorant transport across aqueous sensillar lymph.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the dynamic interactions between OBPs, odorants, and receptors.
  • Understanding OBP function is critical for advancing knowledge of insect olfaction and behavior.