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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

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Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
09:53

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

Published on: April 23, 2019

[Research progress on olfactory receptor].

He Peng1, Lu-hang Zhao

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.

Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ban = Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical Sciences
|March 16, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Olfactory receptors, activated by odor molecules, initiate signal transduction. These G-protein-coupled receptors are crucial for transmitting olfactory information to the brain.

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

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Last Updated: May 24, 2026

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
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Published on: April 23, 2019

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity
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Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Context:

  • Olfactory perception involves the activation of olfactory receptors by odorant molecules.
  • This activation triggers signal transduction pathways within olfactory receptor neurons.
  • The process converts chemical signals into electrical impulses transmitted to the brain.

Purpose:

  • To describe the fundamental process of olfactory perception.
  • To highlight the role of olfactory receptor (OR) genes and proteins.
  • To explain the structural characteristics of olfactory receptor proteins as G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Summary:

  • Olfactory perception begins with odorant molecules binding to olfactory receptors.
  • This binding initiates a signal transduction cascade, converting chemical stimuli into electrical signals.
  • Olfactory receptor proteins, members of the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily, are essential for this process and are characterized by their seven-transmembrane domains.

Impact:

  • Understanding olfactory receptor function is key to deciphering sensory processing.
  • This knowledge can inform research into olfactory disorders and therapeutic interventions.
  • Elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying smell and sensory information processing.