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Olfactory sensory neurons transiently express multiple olfactory receptors during development.
Longzhi Tan1, Qian Li2, X Sunney Xie3
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Molecular Systems Biology
|December 10, 2015
Summary
Mammalian olfactory sensory neurons typically express one olfactory receptor (OR). This study found immature neurons can express multiple ORs, with one being selected during development via epigenetic regulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The "one-neuron-one-receptor" (1-O-1-R) rule dictates that each olfactory sensory neuron expresses only one olfactory receptor (OR).
- This fundamental principle in olfaction has been extensively studied but lacked comprehensive proof across all OR genes within a single cell and understanding of its developmental dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally validate the "one-neuron-one-receptor" rule in mammalian olfactory sensory neurons.
- To investigate the dynamics of olfactory receptor expression during neuronal development.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell transcriptomic sequencing was employed.
- 178 cells were analyzed from the main olfactory epithelium of both adult and newborn mice.
Main Results:
- A subset of olfactory sensory neurons, particularly developmentally immature ones, were found to express multiple olfactory receptors.
- Evidence suggests a dynamic process where neurons initially express multiple ORs, followed by the elimination of all but one, establishing the 1-O-1-R rule.
Conclusions:
- The study provides experimental evidence supporting a developmental model for the establishment of the "one-neuron-one-receptor" rule.
- Epigenetic regulation plays a crucial role in selecting a single OR by suppressing transiently expressed ORs in developing olfactory neurons.
Keywords:
immature and mature olfactory sensory neuronsodorant receptorolfactory systemsingle‐cell RNA‐Seqtrace amine‐associated receptor (TAAR)More Related Videos
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