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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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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

Olfaction

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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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Molecular bases of insect odorant receptor function: specificity and evolution.

Zibo Li1, Abhinob Baruah1, Sridevi Bhamidipati1

  • 1Sorbonne Université, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université Paris-Est-Créteil-Val-de-Marne, Université Paris Cité, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, Versailles cedex, 78026, France.

Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
|December 23, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Insect odorant receptors (ORs), crucial for detecting environmental cues, are now understood through their 3D structures. This review integrates molecular function with structural data, highlighting receptor tuning and interactions.

Keywords:
evolutionligand binding pocketodorant receptorsite‐directed mutationstructure–function

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Area of Science:

  • Structural biology
  • Molecular biology
  • Insect olfaction

Background:

  • Insect odorant receptors (ORs) are key chemoreceptors for detecting volatile compounds.
  • Recent structural biology advances have yielded the first insect OR structures.
  • Understanding OR structure-function relationships is vital for insect communication research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review molecular evidence of OR function within their 3D structural context.
  • To analyze the tuning of ORs and their co-receptor, Orco, and their interactions.
  • To explore the application of structural modeling and functional studies in OR research.

Main Methods:

  • Integration of existing molecular and structural data for insect ORs.
  • Utilizing AlphaFold2 for modeling deorphanized insect OR structures.
  • Mapping functionally important residues onto structural models to identify hotspots.
  • Reviewing methods for functional evolution studies.

Main Results:

  • Established links between molecular function and the 3D structures of insect ORs.
  • Identified putative functional hotspots on ORs through structural modeling and residue mapping.
  • Highlighted the importance of Orco in OR complex structure and function.
  • Discussed efficient methods for studying OR functional evolution.

Conclusions:

  • The 3D structure of insect ORs provides a framework for understanding their function and ligand interactions.
  • AlphaFold2 modeling aids in predicting functional sites and guiding experimental research.
  • Emerging technologies promise further advancements in insect chemoreception research.