Receptor Proteins in Vertebrate Olfaction.

Abstract

Prior to beginning this project we had developed two hypothesis: (1) that receptor protein in olfactory receptor cells comprise a class of molecules of related structure with a region common to all and a region specific for a particular odorant class; (2) that interaction with receptor proteins is only one of several mechanisms by which olfactory neurons are stimulated by odorants. This project was basically an attempt to test these hypothesis. Proteins with affinity for compounds related to the odorants, anisole and benzaldehyde, were isolated from extracts of dog olfactory epithelium by affinity chromatography. Sera from rabbits immunized with each were general inhibitors of mouse olfactory tissue to odorant stimulation. Monoclonal antibodies were prepared against each protein and tested for ability to alter responses to mouse olfactory epithelium to odorant stimulation. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that olfactory receptor proteins are members of a structurally related class of which the anisole and benzaldehyde binding proteins are members. None of the antibodies reduced the magnitude of the response must be mediated by some pathway other than initiation by binding of the odorant to the receptor protein. This is consistent with the hypothesis that there are multiple mechanisms by which odorants stimulate olfactory neurons, interaction with receptor proteins being one of them.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 15, 1987
Accession Number
ADA188311

Entities

People

  • Steven Price

Organizations

  • Virginia Commonwealth University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antibodies
  • Availability
  • Benzaldehydes
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cells
  • Chromatography
  • Classification
  • Epithelium
  • Immune Serums
  • Inhibitors
  • Membranes
  • Molecular Weight
  • Molecules
  • Proteins
  • Security
  • Tissues

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Immunology
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.