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Updated: Mar 8, 2026
12:02
High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity
Published on: June 2, 2014
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Medium-chain fatty acids modulate myocardial function via a cardiac odorant receptor
Nikolina Jovancevic1, A Dendorfer2,3, M Matzkies4
1Department of Cell Physiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany. Nikolina.Jovancevic@rub.de.
Basic Research in Cardiology
|January 25, 2017
Summary
The fatty acid receptor OR51E1 is highly expressed in the human heart. Its activation by fatty acids impacts heart rate and contractility, suggesting a role in cardiac metabolic regulation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Molecular Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Odorant receptors (ORs) are found in various human tissues, but their cardiac function remains largely unknown.
- Previous research indicates ORs' involvement in physiological and pathophysiological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To functionally characterize odorant receptors (ORs) in the human heart.
- To investigate the role of OR51E1 in cardiac development and function.
Main Methods:
- Next-generation sequencing to analyze OR expression in adult and fetal human hearts.
- Luciferase reporter gene assay to determine the OR51E1 ligand profile.
- Calcium imaging in cardiomyocytes and functional assays on cardiac tissue.
Main Results:
- OR51E1 was the most highly expressed OR in both fetal and adult human hearts.
- Identified novel fatty acid ligands and an antagonist for OR51E1.
- OR51E1 activation by ligands induced negative chronotropic and inotropic effects in human cardiac preparations.
Conclusions:
- OR51E1 is functionally expressed in the human heart and responds to fatty acids.
- OR51E1 activation influences cardiac chronotropy and inotropy.
- OR51E1 may function as a metabolic regulator of human cardiac activity.
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