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Martinez Q, Courcelle M, Douzery E, Fabre PH. When morphology does not fit the genomes: the case of rodent olfaction. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230080. [PMID: 37042683 PMCID: PMC10092080 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Linking genes to phenotypes has been a major question in evolutionary biology for the last decades. In the genomic era, few studies attempted to link olfactory-related genes to different anatomical proxies. However, they found very inconsistent results. This study is the first to investigate a potential relation between olfactory turbinals and olfactory receptor (OR) genes. We demonstrated that despite the use of similar methodology in the acquisition of data, OR genes do not correlate with the relative and the absolute surface area of olfactory turbinals. These results challenged the interpretations of several studies based on different proxies related to olfaction and their potential relation to olfactory capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Martinez
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution (ISEM, UMR 5554 CNRS-IRD-UM-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon - CC 064 - 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
- Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart DE-70191, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Maxime Courcelle
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution (ISEM, UMR 5554 CNRS-IRD-UM-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon - CC 064 - 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Emmanuel Douzery
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution (ISEM, UMR 5554 CNRS-IRD-UM-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon - CC 064 - 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Pierre-Henri Fabre
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution (ISEM, UMR 5554 CNRS-IRD-UM-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon - CC 064 - 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
- Mammal Section, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5DB, UK
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology (Mammalogy), American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West, 79th St., New York, NY 10024-5192, USA
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2
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Brennan SE, McDonald S, Murano M, McKenzie JE. Effectiveness of aromatherapy for prevention or treatment of disease, medical or preclinical conditions, and injury: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev 2022; 11:148. [PMID: 35883155 PMCID: PMC9317467 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-022-02015-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aromatherapy - the therapeutic use of essential oils from plants (flowers, herbs or trees) to treat ill health and promote physical, emotional and spiritual well-being - is one of the most widely used natural therapies reported by consumers in Western countries. The Australian Government Department of Health (via the National Health and Medical Research Council) has commissioned a suite of independent evidence evaluations to inform the 2019-20 Review of the Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance for Natural Therapies. This protocol is for one of the evaluations: a systematic review that aims to examine the effectiveness of aromatherapy in preventing and/or treating injury, disease, medical conditions or preclinical conditions. METHODS Eligibility criteria: randomised trials comparing (1) aromatherapy (delivered by any mode) to no aromatherapy (inactive controls), (2) aromatherapy (delivered by massage) to massage alone or (3) aromatherapy to 'gold standard' treatments. POPULATIONS any condition, pre-condition, injury or risk factor (excluding healthy participants without clearly identified risk factors). OUTCOMES any for which aromatherapy is indicated. Searches: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), with a supplementary search of PubMed (covering a 6-month lag period for processing records in CENTRAL and records not indexed in MEDLINE), AMED and Emcare. No date, language or geographic limitations will be applied. DATA AND ANALYSIS screening by two authors, independently (records indexed by Aromatherapy or Oils volatile or aromatherapy in title; all full text) or one author (remaining records) with second author until 80% agreement. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment (ROB 2.0) will be piloted by three authors, then completed by a single author and checked by a second. Comparisons will be based on broad outcome categories (e.g. pain, emotional functioning, sleep disruption) stratified by population subgroups (e.g. chronic pain conditions, cancer, dementia) as defined in the analytic framework for the review. Meta-analysis or other synthesis methods will be used to combine results across studies. GRADE methods will be used to assess certainty of evidence and summarise findings. DISCUSSION Results of the systematic review will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of evidence about the effectiveness of aromatherapy. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42021268244.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue E Brennan
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
| | - Steve McDonald
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Melissa Murano
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Joanne E McKenzie
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
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3
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Topolnicki R, Dopieralski P. Temperature driven interchange of the effective size of proton with deuterium. Chem Phys Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2021.138775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Impact of Deuteration and Temperature on Furan Ring Dynamics. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 26:molecules26102889. [PMID: 34068118 PMCID: PMC8152745 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26102889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite significant progress in conformational analysis of cyclic molecules, the number of computational studies is still limited while most of that available in the literature data have been obtained long time ago with outdated methods. In present research, we have studied temperature driven conformational changes of the furan ring at three different temperatures. Additionally, the effect of deuteration on the ring dynamics is discussed; in addition, the aromaticity indices following the Bird and HOMA schemes are computed along all trajectories. Our ab initio molecular dynamic simulations revealed that deuteration has changed the furan ring dynamics and the obvious consequences; in addition, the shape and size of molecule are expected to be different.
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Abstract
Hydrogen to deuterium isotopic substitution has only a minor effect on physical and chemical properties of water and, as such, is not supposed to influence its neutral taste. Here we conclusively demonstrate that humans are, nevertheless, able to distinguish D2O from H2O by taste. Indeed, highly purified heavy water has a distinctly sweeter taste than same-purity normal water and can add to perceived sweetness of sweeteners. In contrast, mice do not prefer D2O over H2O, indicating that they are not likely to perceive heavy water as sweet. HEK 293T cells transfected with the TAS1R2/TAS1R3 heterodimer and chimeric G-proteins are activated by D2O but not by H2O. Lactisole, which is a known sweetness inhibitor acting via the TAS1R3 monomer of the TAS1R2/TAS1R3, suppresses the sweetness of D2O in human sensory tests, as well as the calcium release elicited by D2O in sweet taste receptor-expressing cells. The present multifaceted experimental study, complemented by homology modelling and molecular dynamics simulations, resolves a long-standing controversy about the taste of heavy water, shows that its sweet taste is mediated by the human TAS1R2/TAS1R3 taste receptor, and opens way to future studies of the detailed mechanism of action. Ben Abu, Mason and colleagues use molecular dynamics, cell-based experiments, mouse models, and human subjects to determine that, unlike ordinary water, heavy water tastes sweet to humans, but not mice. Mechanistically, this effect is mediated by the human TAS1R/TAS1R3 sweet taste receptor.
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6
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Abstract
Hydrogen to deuterium isotopic substitution has only a minor effect on physical and chemical properties of water and, as such, is not supposed to influence its neutral taste. Here we conclusively demonstrate that humans are, nevertheless, able to distinguish D2O from H2O by taste. Indeed, highly purified heavy water has a distinctly sweeter taste than same-purity normal water and can add to perceived sweetness of sweeteners. In contrast, mice do not prefer D2O over H2O, indicating that they are not likely to perceive heavy water as sweet. HEK 293T cells transfected with the TAS1R2/TAS1R3 heterodimer and chimeric G-proteins are activated by D2O but not by H2O. Lactisole, which is a known sweetness inhibitor acting via the TAS1R3 monomer of the TAS1R2/TAS1R3, suppresses the sweetness of D2O in human sensory tests, as well as the calcium release elicited by D2O in sweet taste receptor-expressing cells. The present multifaceted experimental study, complemented by homology modelling and molecular dynamics simulations, resolves a long-standing controversy about the taste of heavy water, shows that its sweet taste is mediated by the human TAS1R2/TAS1R3 taste receptor, and opens way to future studies of the detailed mechanism of action.
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Salthammer T, Monegel F, Schulz N, Uhde E, Grimme S, Seibert J, Hohm U, Palm W. Sensory Perception of Non-Deuterated and Deuterated Organic Compounds. Chemistry 2021; 27:1046-1056. [PMID: 33058253 PMCID: PMC7839723 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202003754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The chemical background of olfactory perception has been subject of intensive research, but no available model can fully explain the sense of smell. There are also inconsistent results on the role of the isotopology of molecules. In experiments with human subjects it was found that the isotope effect is weak with acetone and D6 -acetone. In contrast, clear differences were observed in the perception of octanoic acid and D15 -octanoic acid. Furthermore, a trained sniffer dog was initially able to distinguish between these isotopologues of octanoic acid. In chromatographic measurements, the respective deuterated molecule showed weaker interaction with a non-polar liquid phase. Quantum chemical calculations give evidence that deuterated octanoic acid binds more strongly to a model receptor than non-deuterated. In contrast, the binding of the non-deuterated molecule is stronger with acetone. The isotope effect is calculated in the framework of statistical mechanics. It results from a complicated interplay between various thermostatistical contributions to the non-covalent free binding energies and it turns out to be very molecule-specific. The vibrational terms including non-classical zero-point energies play about the same role as rotational/translational contributions and are larger than bond length effects for the differential isotope perception of odor for which general rules cannot be derived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tunga Salthammer
- Department of Material Analysis and Indoor ChemistryFraunhofer WKI38108BraunschweigGermany
| | - Friederike Monegel
- Department of Material Analysis and Indoor ChemistryFraunhofer WKI38108BraunschweigGermany
| | - Nicole Schulz
- Department of Material Analysis and Indoor ChemistryFraunhofer WKI38108BraunschweigGermany
| | - Erik Uhde
- Department of Material Analysis and Indoor ChemistryFraunhofer WKI38108BraunschweigGermany
| | - Stefan Grimme
- Mulliken Center for Theoretical ChemistryInstitute for Physical and Theoretical ChemistryUniversity of Bonn53115BonnGermany
| | - Jakob Seibert
- Mulliken Center for Theoretical ChemistryInstitute for Physical and Theoretical ChemistryUniversity of Bonn53115BonnGermany
| | - Uwe Hohm
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical ChemistryUniversity of Braunschweig—Institute of Technology38106BraunschweigGermany
| | - Wolf‐Ulrich Palm
- Institute of Sustainable and Environmental ChemistryLeuphana University Lüneburg21335LüneburgGermany
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Szunerits S, Boukherroub R, Vasilescu A. Electrochemical biosensing with odorant binding proteins. Methods Enzymol 2020; 642:345-369. [PMID: 32828260 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.04.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The development of sensors that mimic the natural smell sensing mechanism and selectively recognizes the odorants remains highly challenging. Electrochemical based sensing approaches aiming at monitoring molecular recognition events between surface receptors and analytes in solution or in the gas phase, are one possible transduction platforms among others for the construction of an artificial nose. The principle of electrochemical detection lies on the shift of the potential/current during the recognition event, which is proportional to the concentration of the analyte, in our case the odorant. A tremendous amount of efforts has been put into making electrochemical sensors sensitive and selective to the analyte of interest through the use of nanomaterials, development of different detection schemes and application of innovative receptor ligands for selective detection of the analyte. There have been significant advances in electrochemical based odorant sensing by using odorant binding proteins (OBP) as surface receptors, small soluble proteins present in nasal mucus at millimolar concentrations where the hydrophobic binding pocket gives the ability to reversibly bind odorant molecules. As OBPs are robust and easy to produce receptors, they are good candidates for the design of biosensors. In this chapter, we focus on the progress made on the detection of odorant molecules using OBPs as a bioreceptor and electrochemistry as a transduction method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Szunerits
- University of Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, UMR 8520-IEMN, Lille, France.
| | - Rabah Boukherroub
- University of Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, UMR 8520-IEMN, Lille, France
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Block E. Molecular Basis of Mammalian Odor Discrimination: A Status Report. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2018; 66:13346-13366. [PMID: 30453735 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b04471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Humans have 396 unique, intact olfactory receptors (ORs), G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) containing receptor-specific binding sites; other mammals have more. Activation of these transmembrane proteins by an odorant initiates a signaling cascade, evoking an action potential leading to perception of a smell. Because the number of distinguishable odorants vastly exceeds the number of ORs, research has focused on mechanisms of recognition and signaling processes for classes of odorants. In this review, selected recent examples will be presented of "deorphaned" mammalian receptors, where the OR ligands (odorants) as well as key aspects of receptor-odorant interactions were identified using odorant-mediated receptor activation data together with site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling. Based on cumulative evidence from OR deorphaning and olfactory receptor neuron activation studies, a receptor-ligand docking model rather than an alternative bond vibration model is suggested to best explain the molecular basis of the exquisitely sensitive odor discrimination in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Block
- Department of Chemistry , University at Albany, SUNY , Albany , New York 12222 , United States
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10
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Barwich AS. How to be rational about empirical success in ongoing science: The case of the quantum nose and its critics. STUDIES IN HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE 2018; 69:40-51. [PMID: 29857800 DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsa.2018.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Empirical success is a central criterion for scientific decision-making. Yet its understanding in philosophical studies of science deserves renewed attention: Should philosophers think differently about the advancement of science when they deal with the uncertainty of outcome in ongoing research in comparison with historical episodes? This paper argues that normative appeals to empirical success in the evaluation of competing scientific explanations can result in unreliable conclusions, especially when we are looking at the changeability of direction in unsettled investigations. The challenges we encounter arise from the inherent dynamics of disciplinary and experimental objectives in research practice. In this paper we discuss how these dynamics inform the evaluation of empirical success by analyzing three of its requirements: data accommodation, instrumental reliability, and predictive power. We conclude that the assessment of empirical success in developing inquiry is set against the background of a model's interactive success and prospective value in an experimental context. Our argument is exemplified by the analysis of an apparent controversy surrounding the model of a quantum nose in research on olfaction. Notably, the public narrative of this controversy rests on a distorted perspective on measures of empirical success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Sophie Barwich
- Columbia University, Presidential Scholar in Society and Neuroscience, Department of the Biological Sciences, Department of Philosophy, The Center for Science and Society, Fayerweather 511, 1180 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10027, USA.
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11
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Pshenichnyuk SA, Rakhmeyev RG, Asfandiarov NL, Komolov AS, Modelli A, Jones D. Can the Electron-Accepting Properties of Odorants Be Involved in Their Recognition by the Olfactory System? J Phys Chem Lett 2018; 9:2320-2325. [PMID: 29665679 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b00704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The present study examines the possible importance of the electron-accepting properties of odorant molecules and, in particular, the formation and decay of temporary negative ions via low-energy electron attachment as a possible contribution toward understanding odorant recognition by olfactory receptors (ORs). Fragments formed by dissociative electron attachment (DEA) of mustard oil odorants represented by a series of isothiocyanates are studied experimentally using DEA spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Relative intensities for the most abundant fragment species, S- and SCN-, are found to be characteristic of structurally similar odorants under investigation. This novel approach for the investigation of odorants may contribute to understanding the initial stages of the olfactory process and may provide a means to distinguish between odorants and their interactions with the olfactory receptor system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav A Pshenichnyuk
- Institute of Molecule and Crystal Physics, Ufa Federal Research Centre , Russian Academy of Sciences , Prospeκt Oktyabrya 151 , 450075 Ufa , Russia
| | - Rustam G Rakhmeyev
- Institute of Molecule and Crystal Physics, Ufa Federal Research Centre , Russian Academy of Sciences , Prospeκt Oktyabrya 151 , 450075 Ufa , Russia
| | - Nail L Asfandiarov
- Institute of Molecule and Crystal Physics, Ufa Federal Research Centre , Russian Academy of Sciences , Prospeκt Oktyabrya 151 , 450075 Ufa , Russia
| | - Alexei S Komolov
- St. Petersburg State University , Universitetskaya nab. 7/9 , 199034 St. Petersburg , Russia
| | - Alberto Modelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician" , Università di Bologna , via Selmi 2 , 40126 Bologna , Italy
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca in Scienze Ambientali , via S. Alberto 163 , 48123 Ravenna , Italy
| | - Derek Jones
- ISOF, Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, C.N.R. , via Gobetti 101 , 40129 Bologna , Italy
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12
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Abstract
We propose a technologically feasible one-dimensional double barrier resonant tunneling diode (RTD) as electronic nose, inspired by the vibration theory of biological olfaction. The working principle is phonon-assisted inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS), modeled here using the Non-Equilibrium Green Function formalism for quantum transport. While standard IETS requires low-temperature operation to obviate the thermal broadening of spectroscopic peaks, we show that quantum confinement in the well of the RTD provides electron energy filtering in this case and could thereby allow room-temperature operation. We also find that the IETS peaks - corresponding to adsorbed foreign molecules - shift monotonically along the bias voltage coordinate with their vibrational energy, promising a selective sensor.
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13
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Vibrational Detection of Odorant Functional Groups by Drosophila melanogaster. eNeuro 2017; 4:eN-NWR-0049-17. [PMID: 29094064 PMCID: PMC5663008 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0049-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A remarkable feature of olfaction, and perhaps the hardest one to explain by shape-based molecular recognition, is the ability to detect the presence of functional groups in odorants, irrespective of molecular context. We previously showed that Drosophila trained to avoid deuterated odorants could respond to a molecule bearing a nitrile group, which shares the vibrational stretch frequency with the CD bond. Here, we reproduce and extend this finding by showing analogous olfactory responses of Drosophila to the chemically vastly different functional groups, thiols and boranes, that nevertheless possess a common vibration at 2600 cm−1. Furthermore, we show that Drosophila do not respond to a cyanohydrin structure that renders nitrile groups invisible to IR spectroscopy. We argue that the response of Drosophila to these odorants which parallels their perception in humans, supports the hypothesis that odor character is encoded in odorant molecular vibrations, not in the specific shape-based activation pattern of receptors.
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Block E, Batista VS, Matsunami H, Zhuang H, Ahmed L. The role of metals in mammalian olfaction of low molecular weight organosulfur compounds. Nat Prod Rep 2017; 34:529-557. [PMID: 28471462 PMCID: PMC5542778 DOI: 10.1039/c7np00016b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Covering: up to the end of 2017While suggestions concerning the possible role of metals in olfaction and taste date back 50 years, only recently has it been possible to confirm these proposals with experiments involving individual olfactory receptors (ORs). A detailed discussion of recent experimental results demonstrating the key role of metals in enhancing the response of human and other vertebrate ORs to specific odorants is presented against the backdrop of our knowledge of how the sense of smell functions both at the molecular and whole animal levels. This review emphasizes the role of metals in the detection of low molecular weight thiols, sulfides, and other organosulfur compounds, including those found in strong-smelling animal excretions and plant volatiles, and those used in gas odorization. Alternative theories of olfaction are described, with evidence favoring the modified "shape" theory. The use of quantum mechanical/molecular modeling (QM/MM), site-directed mutagenesis and saturation-transfer-difference (STD) NMR is discussed, providing support for biological studies of mouse and human receptors, MOR244-3 and OR OR2T11, respectively. Copper is bound at the active site of MOR244-3 by cysteine and histidine, while cysteine, histidine and methionine are involved with OR2T11. The binding pockets of these two receptors are found in different locations in the three-dimensional seven transmembrane models. Another recently deorphaned human olfactory receptor, OR2M3, highly selective for a thiol from onions, and a broadly-tuned thiol receptor, OR1A1, are also discussed. Other topics covered include the effects of nanoparticles and heavy metal toxicants on vertebrate and fish ORs, intranasal zinc products and the loss of smell (anosmia).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Block
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12222, USA.
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15
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Jang S, Hyeon C. Kinetic Model for the Activation of Mammalian Olfactory Receptor. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:1304-1311. [PMID: 28118707 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b00486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The sense of smell is triggered by binding of odorants to a set of olfactory receptors (ORs), the activation of which generates specific patterns of neuronal signals in olfactory bulbs. Despite a long history of research and speculations, very little is known about the actual mechanism of OR activation. In particular, there is virtually no theoretical framework capable of describing the kinetics of olfactory activation at a quantitative level. Based on the fact that mammalian ORs belong to a class of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and utilizing the information available from recent studies on other types of GPCRs with known structural data, we construct a minimal kinetic model for mammalian olfactory activation, obtaining a new expression for the signal strength as a function of odorant and G-protein concentrations and defining this as odor activity (OA). The parametric dependence of OA on equilibrium dissociation and rate constants provides a new comprehensive means to describe how odorant-OR binding kinetics affects the odor signal, and offers new quantitative criteria for classifying agonistic, partially agonistic, and antagonistic (or inverse agonistic) behavior. The dependence of OA on the concentration of G-proteins also suggests a new experimental method to determine key equilibrium constants for odorant-OR and G-protein-OR association/dissociation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seogjoo Jang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College, City University of New York , 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Queens, New York 11367, United States.,PhD programs in Chemistry and Physics, and Initiative for Theoretical Sciences, Graduate Center, City University of New York , 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Changbong Hyeon
- School of Computational Sciences, Korea Institute for Advanced Study , Hoegiro 85, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02455, Korea
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Wang B, Liu Y, He K, Wang G. Comparison of research methods for functional characterization of insect olfactory receptors. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32806. [PMID: 27633402 PMCID: PMC5025650 DOI: 10.1038/srep32806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect olfactory receptors (ORs) in the peripheral olfactory system play an important role detecting elements of information from the environment. At present, various approaches are used for deorphanizing of ORs in insect. In this study, we compared methods for functional analysis of ORs in vitro and in vivo taking the candidate pheromone receptor OR13 of Helicoverpa assulta (HassOR13) as the object of our experiments. We found that the natural system was more sensitive than those utilizing transgenic Drosophila. The two-electrode voltage-clamp recording is more suitable for functional screening of large numbers of ORs, while the in vivo transgenic Drosophila system could prove more accurate to further validate the function of a specific OR. We also found that, among the different solvents used to dissolve pheromones and odorants, hexane offered good reproducibility and high sensitivity. Finally, the function of ORs was indirectly confirmed in transgenic Drosophila, showing that odor-activation of ORs-expressing olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) can mediate behavioral choices. In summary, our results compare advantages and drawbacks of different approaches, thus helping in the choice of the method most suitable, in each specific situation, for deorphanizing insect ORs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kang He
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guirong Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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Differential Electrophysiological Responses to Odorant Isotopologues in Drosophilid Antennae. eNeuro 2016; 3:eN-NWR-0152-15. [PMID: 27351023 PMCID: PMC4913217 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0152-15.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfaction presents the ultimate challenge to molecular recognition as thousands of molecules have to be recognized by far fewer olfactory receptors. We have presented evidence that Drosophila readily distinguish odorants based on their molecular vibrations using a battery of behavioral assays suggesting engagement of a molecular vibration-sensing component. Here we interrogate electrophysiologically the antennae of four Drosophilids and demonstrate conserved differential response amplitudes to aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, nitriles, and their deuterated isotopologues. Certain deuterated odorants evoked larger electroantennogram (EAG) amplitudes, while the response to the normal odorant was elevated in others. Significantly, benzonitrile isotopologues were not distinguishable as predicted. This suggests that isotopologue-specific EAG amplitudes result from differential activation of specific olfactory receptors. In support of this, odorants with as few as two deuteria evoke distinct EAG amplitudes from their normal isotopologues, and this is independent of the size of the deuterated molecule. Importantly, we find no evidence that these isotopologue-specific amplitudes depend on perireceptor mechanisms or other pertinent physical property of the deuterated odorants. Rather, our results strongly suggest that Drosophilid olfactory receptors are activated by molecular vibrations differentiating similarly sized and shaped odorants in vivo, yielding sufficient differential information to drive behavioral choices.
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Abstract
Olfaction enables most mammalian species to detect and discriminate vast numbers of chemical structures called odorants and pheromones. The perception of such chemical compounds is mediated via two major olfactory systems, the main olfactory system and the vomeronasal system, as well as minor systems, such as the septal organ and the Grueneberg ganglion. Distinct differences exist not only among species but also among individuals in terms of their olfactory sensitivity; however, little is known about the mechanisms that determine these differences. In research on the olfactory sensitivity of mammals, scientists thus depend in most cases on behavioral testing. In this article, we reviewed scientific studies performed on various mammalian species using different methodologies and target chemical substances. Human and non-human primates as well as rodents and dogs are the most frequently studied species. Olfactory threshold studies on other species do not exist with the exception of domestic pigs. Olfactory testing performed on seals, elephants, and bats focused more on discriminative abilities than on sensitivity. An overview of olfactory sensitivity studies as well as olfactory detection ability in most studied mammalian species is presented here, focusing on comparable olfactory detection thresholds. The basics of olfactory perception and olfactory sensitivity factors are also described.
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Odorant receptors of Drosophila are sensitive to the molecular volume of odorants. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25103. [PMID: 27112241 PMCID: PMC4844992 DOI: 10.1038/srep25103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Which properties of a molecule define its odor? This is a basic yet unanswered question regarding the olfactory system. The olfactory system of Drosophila has a repertoire of approximately 60 odorant receptors. Molecules bind to odorant receptors with different affinities and activate them with different efficacies, thus providing a combinatorial code that identifies odorants. We hypothesized that the binding affinity of an odorant-receptor pair is affected by their relative sizes. The maximum affinity can be attained when the molecular volume of an odorant matches the volume of the binding pocket. The affinity drops to zero when the sizes are too different, thus obscuring the effects of other molecular properties. We developed a mathematical formulation of this hypothesis and verified it using Drosophila data. We also predicted the volume and structural flexibility of the binding site of each odorant receptor; these features significantly differ between odorant receptors. The differences in the volumes and structural flexibilities of different odorant receptor binding sites may explain the difference in the scents of similar molecules with different sizes.
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Barwich AS. What is so special about smell? Olfaction as a model system in neurobiology. Postgrad Med J 2015; 92:27-33. [PMID: 26534994 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2015-133249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Neurobiology studies mechanisms of cell signalling. A key question is how cells recognise specific signals. In this context, olfaction has become an important experimental system over the past 25 years. The olfactory system responds to an array of structurally diverse stimuli. The discovery of the olfactory receptors (ORs), recognising these stimuli, established the olfactory pathway as part of a greater group of signalling mechanisms mediated by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs are the largest protein family in the mammalian genome and involved in numerous fundamental physiological processes. The OR family exhibits two characteristics that make them an excellent model system to understand GPCRs: its size and the structural diversity of its members. Research on the OR binding site investigates what amino acid sequences determine the receptor-binding capacity. This promises a better understanding of how the basic genetic makeup of GPCRs relates to their diversification in ligand-binding capacities.
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