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Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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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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Olfaction01:25

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The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
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Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

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Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
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GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
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Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
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Modeling of Olfactory Receptors.

Xueying Wang1, H C Stephen Chan1, Shuguang Yuan2

  • 1Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shenzhen, China.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|March 24, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Olfactory receptors (ORs) are the largest GPCR family, but lack experimental structures. This guide details homology modeling for ORs to understand their function and develop new drugs.

Keywords:
G protein-coupled receptorsHomology modelingMolecular DynamicsOdorantsOlfactory receptors

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Olfactory receptors (ORs) represent the largest subfamily of class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).
  • Currently, no experimental structural data exists for any OR.
  • Understanding OR structure is crucial for drug discovery and understanding olfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive guideline for constructing homology models of olfactory receptors.
  • To facilitate the study of OR structure-function relationships.
  • To aid in the discovery and development of novel ligands targeting ORs.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of appropriate template structures for homology modeling.
  • Performing structure-based sequence alignment for ORs.
  • Generating 3D structural models of olfactory receptors.
  • Utilizing ligand docking simulations.
  • Conducting molecular dynamic simulations.

Main Results:

  • The chapter outlines a step-by-step methodology for OR homology modeling.
  • The proposed methods enable the creation of plausible 3D models for ORs.
  • These models can be used for further functional and drug discovery studies.

Conclusions:

  • Homology modeling is a viable strategy for investigating OR structure in the absence of experimental data.
  • The provided guidelines offer a framework for building reliable OR models.
  • This approach supports the development of therapeutics targeting olfactory pathways.