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Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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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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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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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

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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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Osmoregulation in Insects01:47

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Malpighian tubules are specialized structures found in the digestive systems of many arthropods, including most insects, that handle excretion and osmoregulation. The tubules are typically arranged in pairs and have a convoluted structure that increases their surface area.
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Pollination and Flower Structure02:40

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Flowers are the reproductive, seed-producing structures of angiosperms. Typically, flowers consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals and petals are the vegetative flower organs. Stamens and carpels are the reproductive organs.  
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Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

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Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex.
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Single Sensillum Recordings for Locust Palp Sensilla Basiconica
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Odorant Reception in Insects: Functional and Evolutionary Perspectives.

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    Insect smell is key to communication, driving research into how insects detect survival compounds using specialized odorant receptors (ORs). Studies reveal OR evolution and function in olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs).

    Keywords:
    BmorPBPCO2 receptorsDEETORsinverse agonistsionotropic receptorsodorant receptorsodorant-binding proteinssex pheromones

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    Identification of Olfactory Volatiles using Gas Chromatography-Multi-unit Recordings GCMR in the Insect Antennal Lobe

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    Area of Science:

    • Entomology
    • Chemical Ecology
    • Neurobiology
    • Structural Biology
    • Evolutionary Biology

    Background:

    • Insect communication relies heavily on olfactory cues for survival-related compounds.
    • Odorant receptors (ORs) and pheromone-binding proteins have been structurally characterized, showing specific semiochemical interactions.
    • ORs are hypothesized to have evolved from gustatory receptors during terrestrial adaptation and specialized for pheromone detection.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying insect olfaction and semiochemical detection.
    • To explore the evolution and specialization of insect odorant receptors.
    • To identify novel semiochemicals and their corresponding receptors through reverse chemical ecology.

    Main Methods:

    • Structural biology techniques to resolve protein structures.
    • Gene silencing, expression in heterologous systems, and gene resurrection to study receptor function.
    • Reverse chemical ecology approaches for semiochemical and receptor discovery.
    • Analysis of receptor expression in olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs).

    Main Results:

    • Structural insights into pheromone-binding proteins and odorant receptors (ORs) enabling specific ligand binding.
    • Evidence supporting the evolutionary trajectory of ORs from gustatory receptors.
    • Demonstration of receptor de-orphanization and identification of new semiochemicals.
    • Confirmation of ORs, coreceptors, and potentially other receptor types (ionotropic, gustatory) in ORNs.

    Conclusions:

    • Insect olfaction is a complex system involving diverse receptors and proteins.
    • Odorant receptors have evolved significantly to mediate crucial survival behaviors.
    • Advanced techniques like reverse chemical ecology are powerful tools for understanding insect-environment interactions.