Beyond olfaction: New insights into human odorant binding proteins.

ABSTRACT: Until today, the exact function of mammalian odorant binding proteins (OBPs) remains a topic of debate. Although their main established function lacks direct evidence in human olfaction, OBPs are traditionally believed to act as odorant transporters in the olfactory sense. Now, available RNA-seq and proteomics data identified the expression of the two known human OBPs (hOBP2A and hOBP2B) in both male and female reproductive tissues. Therefore, we hypothesize that OBPs may possess functions that go beyond the olfactory sense, potentially as hormone transporters. Such a function could further link them to the tumorigenesis and cancer progression of hormone-dependent cancer types including ovarian, breast, prostate, and uterine cancer. In this structured review, we use available data to explo

SUBMITTER: Chen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12848774 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature