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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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...

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Related Experiment Video

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Hybridization Chain Reaction RNA Whole-Mount Fluorescence In situ Hybridization of Chemosensory Genes in Mosquito Olfactory Appendages

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Insights into subunit interactions within the insect olfactory receptor complex using FRET.

Pablo F German¹, Selene van der Poel, Colm Carraher

¹The New Zealand Institute of Plant & Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.

Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

|December 1, 2012

Summary

Insect olfactory receptors (ORs) interact with Orco and SNMP1, revealing new protein partnerships crucial for smell detection. This research clarifies the complex molecular machinery insects use to sense their environment.

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FRET Microscopy for Real-time Monitoring of Signaling Events in Live Cells Using Unimolecular Biosensors

FRET Microscopy for Real-time Monitoring of Signaling Events in Live Cells Using Unimolecular Biosensors

Published on: August 20, 2012

Area of Science:

Molecular biology
Neuroscience
Insect olfaction

Background:

Insect olfactory receptors (ORs) are ligand-gated cation channels vital for detecting volatile organic compounds.
ORs form complexes with subunits like Orco (olfactory receptor co-receptor) and potentially interact with SNMP1/2 proteins.
SNMP1 is known to be essential for specific odorant reception in insects.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate protein-protein interactions within insect olfactory receptor complexes.
To determine interactions between Orco, ligand-binding ORs (like Or22a), and SNMP1/2 proteins.

Main Methods:

Utilized Förster/Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) by acceptor photobleaching in live insect cells.
Employed baculovirus-mediated expression to create fusion proteins with fluorescent tags (CFP/YFP).
Analyzed interactions of Or22a, Orco, SNMP1, and SNMP2.

Main Results:

Confirmed homomeric and heteromeric interactions between Or22a and Orco.
Demonstrated no interaction between Orco and SNMP1 or SNMP2.
Provided evidence for a direct interaction between Or22a and SNMP1.

Conclusions:

Receptor complexes involve interactions between ligand-binding ORs and Orco.
SNMP1 interacts with specific olfactory receptor subunits, like Or22a, suggesting a role in olfactory complex assembly or function.