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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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The olfactory...

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The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...

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Related Experiment Video

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Using Insect Electroantennogram Sensors on Autonomous Robots for Olfactory Searches

Using Insect Electroantennogram Sensors on Autonomous Robots for Olfactory Searches

Published on: August 4, 2014

Novel cell-based odorant sensor elements based on insect odorant receptors.

Hidefumi Mitsuno¹, Takeshi Sakurai¹, Shigehiro Namiki²

¹Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan.

Biosensors & Bioelectronics

|December 3, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a novel cell-based odorant sensor using insect cells and receptors. This new sensor offers high sensitivity, selectivity, and long-term stability for practical odor detection applications.

Keywords:

Calcium imaging Insect odorant receptor Odorant sensor element Sf21 cell line

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Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Biosensor Development
Chemical Sensing

Background:

Cell-based odorant sensors require high sensitivity, selectivity, and long-term stability for practical use.
Existing cell-based sensors often suffer from short operational lifespans, limiting their applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel cell-based odorant sensor element with enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and long-term stability.
To demonstrate the feasibility of integrating these sensor elements into a microfluidic chip for compact odor detection.

Main Methods:

Utilized Sf21 cell lines engineered to express insect odorant receptors.
Assessed sensor sensitivity to odorants in solution, down to tens of parts per billion.
Evaluated selective odorant discrimination based on expressed receptor properties.
Monitored sensor responsiveness and stability over an extended period (at least 2 months).
Integrated the engineered cell lines into a microfluidic chip to create a compact sensor.

Main Results:

The developed odorant sensor elements exhibit high sensitivity (tens of parts per billion) and selectivity.
Consistent sensor responsiveness was maintained for at least 2 months, significantly improving lifespan.
Response times were recorded at approximately 13 seconds.
A compact odorant sensor chip was successfully developed by integrating the cell lines into a microfluidic device.

Conclusions:

The novel cell-based odorant sensor demonstrates significant improvements in sensitivity, selectivity, and long-term stability.
The established methodology, leveraging insect odorant receptors, provides a robust platform for developing practical cell-based odor sensors.
This technology holds promise for diverse applications in food administration and health management.