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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 18, 2026

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

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

Published on: October 2, 2017

Capacitance-modulated transistor detects odorant binding protein chiral interactions.

Mohammad Yusuf Mulla¹, Elena Tuccori², Maria Magliulo¹

¹Dipartimento di Chimica and CSGI, Università degli Studi di Bari 'Aldo Moro', 70125 Bari, Italy.

Nature Communications

|January 17, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) interactions were measured using a novel bio-electronic transistor. This method quantifies weak molecular binding, advancing our understanding of olfaction.

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Last Updated: Apr 18, 2026

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

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Published on: October 2, 2017

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Published on: April 23, 2019

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Bio-electronics
Olfactory receptor research

Background:

The precise role of odorant binding proteins (OBPs) in recognizing diverse volatile chemicals remains largely undetermined.
Understanding OBPs is crucial for deciphering the mechanisms of olfaction at a peripheral level.

Purpose of the Study:

To sensitively and quantitatively measure the weak interactions between neutral enantiomers and OBPs.
To investigate OBP conformational changes upon ligand binding using a bio-electronic transistor.

Main Methods:

Immobilization of OBPs onto an organic bio-electronic transistor gate via self-assembled monolayers.
Sensitive transduction of ligand-protein complex formation through changes in the protein layer's capacitance.
Derivation of thermodynamic parameters, including free-energy components and conformational events.

Main Results:

Demonstrated sensitive and quantitative measurement of ultra-weak molecular interactions.
Established a correlation between OBP ligand binding and minute changes in transistor capacitance.
Enabled the derivation of free-energy balances and identification of conformational events.

Conclusions:

Capacitance-modulated transistors offer a novel platform for studying ultra-weak molecular interactions.
This approach integrates biochemical and electronic thermodynamic parameters for comprehensive analysis.
The findings provide new insights into OBP function and ligand recognition in olfaction.