Aldehyde recognition and discrimination by mammalian odorant receptors via functional group-specific hydration chemistry.

ABSTRACT: The mammalian odorant receptors (ORs) form a chemical-detecting interface between the atmosphere and the nervous system. This large gene family is composed of hundreds of membrane proteins predicted to form as many unique small molecule binding niches within their G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) framework, but very little is known about the molecular recognition strategies they use to bind and discriminate between small molecule odorants. Using rationally designed synthetic analogs of a typical aliphatic aldehyde, we report evidence that among the ORs showing specificity for the aldehyde functional group, a significant percentage detect the aldehyde through its ability to react with water to form a 1,1-geminal (gem)-diol. Evidence is presented indicating that the rat OR-I7, an often-stud

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4245160 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature