Olfactory receptor

The olfactory receptor (OR) is a type of protein that is involved in the sense of smell. It is a part of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, which is a large group of proteins that play a role in many different physiological functions.

Structure

Olfactory receptors are located in the cell membrane of olfactory receptor neurons and are responsible for the detection of odor molecules. Structurally, these receptors are composed of seven transmembrane domains connected by intra- and extracellular loops, a characteristic shared with many other GPCRs.

Function

The primary function of olfactory receptors is to bind odor molecules and initiate a neural response that triggers the perception of a smell. The olfactory receptors are highly specialized, and each one recognizes a few specific odor molecules. The receptors are activated when they bind to the odor molecule, which triggers a signal transduction pathway that leads to a neural response.

Genetic diversity

There is a great deal of genetic diversity in olfactory receptors. In humans, there are approximately 400 functional olfactory receptor genes and over 600 pseudogenes. This diversity allows for the detection of a wide range of odors.

See also

• Olfaction
• Olfactory system
• Olfactory bulb
• Olfactory epithelium

External links

• Olfactory receptor at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

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