An olfactory receptor pseudogene whose function emerged in humans: a case study in the evolution of structure-function in GPCRs.

ABSTRACT: Human olfactory receptor, hOR17-210, is identified as a pseudogene in the human genome. Experimental data has shown however, that the gene product of frame-shifted, cloned hOR17-210 cDNA was able to bind an odorant-binding protein and is narrowly tuned for excitation by cyclic ketones. Supported by experimental results, we used the bioinformatics methods of sequence analysis (genome-wide and pair-wise), computational protein modeling and docking, to show that functionality in this receptor is retained due to sequence-structure features not previously observed in mammalian ORs. This receptor does not possess the first two transmembrane helical domains (of seven typically seen in GPCRs). It however, possesses an additional TM that has not been observed in other human olfactory receptors. By

SUBMITTER: Lai PC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3197733 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature