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The multi-faceted food odorant 4-methylphenol selectively activates evolutionary conserved receptor OR9Q2
Franziska Haag1, Tim Frey1, Sandra Hoffmann1
1Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Lise-Meitner-Str. 34, 85354 Freising, Germany.
Food Chemistry
|June 9, 2023
Summary
Researchers identified human odorant receptor OR9Q2 as a specific sensor for 4-methylphenol, a compound with diverse roles as a food aroma, malodor, and semiochemical. This discovery fills a gap in human olfactory perception and reveals evolutionary conservation.
Area of Science:
- Olfactory receptor research
- Chemosensation
- Molecular biology
Background:
- 4-Methylphenol is a volatile compound with significant sensory impact, recognized for its distinct odor quality.
- Its dual role as a desirable aroma and an unpleasant malodor, alongside its function as a semiochemical, necessitates understanding its detection mechanisms.
- Identifying the specific human odorant receptor for 4-methylphenol has been a long-standing challenge in olfactory research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the human odorant receptor responsible for detecting 4-methylphenol.
- To investigate the selectivity of the identified receptor towards 4-methylphenol and its isomers.
- To explore the evolutionary conservation and functional significance of this receptor across different species.
Main Methods:
- Human olfactory receptor gene identification and characterization.
- In vitro functional assays using purified 4-methylphenol and its isomer 3-methylphenol.
- Comparative analysis of orthologous receptors in chimpanzee, mouse, and cow.
Main Results:
- Human receptor OR9Q2 was identified and characterized as specifically tuned to 4-methylphenol, distinguishing it from the isomer 3-methylphenol.
- The function of OR9Q2 in detecting 4-methylphenol is evolutionarily conserved in related species, including chimpanzee, mouse, and cow.
- The bovine OR9Q2 ortholog demonstrated a significantly higher signal response to 4-methylphenol compared to the human receptor, aligning with its known role as a pheromone.
Conclusions:
- OR9Q2 serves as a key sensor for 4-methylphenol, addressing a critical gap in human olfactory perception of this versatile compound.
- The evolutionary conservation of OR9Q2 highlights the importance of 4-methylphenol detection across species.
- The heightened sensitivity of the cow receptor suggests specialized roles in animal communication and pheromonal signaling.
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