Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

10.6K
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...
10.6K
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

40.5K
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...
40.5K
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

13.2K
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...
13.2K
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

5.5K
GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory...
5.5K
Reporter Genes02:11

Reporter Genes

11.4K
Reporter genes are a type of protein-coding gene that are often tagged to a gene of interest. Once inside a target cell, reporter genes usually produce visually identifiable characteristics like fluorescence and luminescence when expressed along with the gene of interest. Thus, reporter genes “report” the presence or absence of genes of interest in an organism, determine the gene expression pattern, or track the physical location of a DNA segment or protein in the cell.
11.4K
Operons02:09

Operons

44.2K
Prokaryotes can control gene expression through operons—DNA sequences consisting of regulatory elements and clustered, functionally related protein-coding genes. Operons use a single promoter sequence to initiate transcription of a gene cluster (i.e., a group of structural genes) into a single mRNA molecule. The terminator sequence ends transcription. An operator sequence, located between the promoter and structural genes, prohibits the operon’s transcriptional activity if bound by...
44.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Development of Poliosis in Patients Treated With Immunotherapy for Metastatic Cutaneous and Non-Cutaneous Melanoma.

Pigment cell & melanoma research·2026
Same author

Treatment of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae in a Southern California Population.

Cutis·2026
Same author

The road to 100: single center experience with the first 100 consecutive robotic kidney transplants.

Journal of robotic surgery·2026
Same author

Toward a clinical algorithm for the detection of periprosthetic joint infections using targeted NGS.

Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease·2025
Same author

Lung Microbiota in People Diagnosed with HIV and Pneumonia: A Colombian Cohort Study.

The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene·2025
Same author

A spatial single-cell atlas of the claustro-insular region uncovers key regulators of neuronal identity and excitability.

Nature communications·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity
12:02

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity

Published on: June 2, 2014

11.6K

Singular expression of olfactory receptor genes.

Ivan Rodriguez1

  • 1Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.

Cell
|October 15, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Olfactory receptor gene transcription is complex. Research suggests odorant receptor choice involves escaping silencing and activating a feedback loop for stabilization.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Olfactory receptor (OR) genes comprise a large repertoire in mammals.
  • Monogenic and monoallelic transcription of OR genes remains poorly understood.
  • Understanding OR gene regulation is crucial for olfactory system function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanisms governing olfactory receptor gene transcription.
  • To investigate the process of odorant receptor choice and stabilization.
  • To explore the role of silencing escape and feedback loops in OR gene expression.

Main Methods:

  • This study integrates genetic analysis with molecular biology techniques.
  • Investigated the dynamics of olfactory receptor gene silencing and activation.

More Related Videos

Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay
09:11

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

Published on: October 2, 2017

8.7K
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

Published on: June 5, 2017

6.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 7, 2026

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity
12:02

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity

Published on: June 2, 2014

11.6K
Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay
09:11

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

Published on: October 2, 2017

8.7K
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

Published on: June 5, 2017

6.7K
  • Utilized advanced imaging and sequencing to track gene expression patterns.

    • Main Results:

    • A novel mechanism involving escape from silencing was identified for OR gene activation.
    • Evidence supports the activation of an unconventional feedback loop in odorant receptor selection.
    • These processes are critical for the stabilization of a single functional olfactory receptor.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings reveal a new model for olfactory receptor gene regulation.
    • Escape from silencing and feedback loops are key to monoallelic OR expression.
    • This provides fundamental insights into the molecular basis of smell.