Functional Reconstitution of Olfactory Receptor
Abstract
We use olfactory receptor neurons and membrane fragments from the rat olfactory epithelium incorporated into planar bimolecular lipid membranes and patch-bilayers to define the initial electrochemical membrane events in chemoreception by the mammalian olfactory system. We have found and characterized a chemosensitive K+ channel from rat olfactory epithelium homogenates which can be functionally reconstituted into artificial planar lipid bimolecular membranes. We have demonstrated that cAMP mimicked the effect of odorant. The statistical analysis of our patch-clamp data suggested the multiple mode of cAMP action on the single channel activity: (a) directly, and (b) via protein kinase system. We demonstrated that chemosensitivity or functionally reconstituted olfactory receptor is manifested as a change in the mean open time of single channel events in response to small (subnanomolar) concentrations of the odorants in the medium bathing the membrane under control of the activity of cyclic nucleotide-processing enzymes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 16, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA284810
Entities
People
- Vitaly Vodyanoy
Organizations
- Auburn University