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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants
Published on: September 18, 2018
Can the Electron-Accepting Properties of Odorants Be Involved in Their Recognition by the Olfactory System?
Stanislav A Pshenichnyuk1, Rustam G Rakhmeyev1, Nail L Asfandiarov1
1Institute of Molecule and Crystal Physics, Ufa Federal Research Centre , Russian Academy of Sciences , Prospeκt Oktyabrya 151 , 450075 Ufa , Russia.
Abstract:
The present study examines the possible importance of the electron-accepting properties of odorant molecules and, in particular, the formation and decay of temporary negative ions via low-energy electron attachment as a possible contribution toward understanding odorant recognition by olfactory receptors (ORs). Fragments formed by dissociative electron attachment (DEA) of mustard oil odorants represented by a series of isothiocyanates are studied experimentally using DEA spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Relative intensities for the most abundant fragment species, S- and SCN-, are found to be characteristic of structurally similar odorants under investigation. This novel approach for the investigation of odorants may contribute to understanding the initial stages of the olfactory process and may provide a means to distinguish between odorants and their interactions with the olfactory receptor system.
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