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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
Published on: April 23, 2019
An unsaturated aliphatic alcohol as a natural ligand for a mouse odorant receptor
Keiichi Yoshikawa1, Hiroaki Nakagawa, Naoki Mori
1Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
We report the identification of a physiological receptor-volatile pair in the mouse olfactory system. By activity-guided fractionation of exocrine gland extracts and subsequent chemical analysis, (Z)-5-tetradecen-1-ol was identified as a natural ligand for a mouse odorant receptor. (Z)-5-tetradecen-1-ol is excreted into male mouse urine under androgen control and enhances urine attractiveness to female mice. This report is to our knowledge the first to describe natural product-based deorphanization of an odorant receptor.
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