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Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Quadruple Immunostaining of the Olfactory Bulb for Visualization of Olfactory Sensory Axon Molecular Identity Codes
Published on: June 5, 2017
Olfactory GPCRs through the lens of structural bioinformatics
Alessandro Nicoli1,2, Florian Bößl1,2, Antonella Di Concilio Moschen1,2
1Section In Silico Biology & Machine Learning, Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany.
Abstract:
Olfactory perception, mediated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) such as odorant receptors (ORs) and trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs), plays a pivotal role in human health, influencing behaviors like food choices and serving as early biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. Despite their importance, olfactory GPCRs are among the least understood members of the GPCR superfamily, and most ORs and TAARs are still orphan receptors. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the structural bioinformatics of olfactory GPCRs. We outline how computational, structure-based strategies have succeeded in identifying novel modulators for olfactory receptors. By discussing recent breakthroughs in GPCR structural biology, such as the first resolved experimental structures of ORs and TAARs, and the transformative impact of AI-driven structure prediction tools for olfactory receptors, this review offers a roadmap for future olfaction pharmacology research.
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