Role of Axonal Odorant Receptors in Olfactory Topography

Neuroscience Insights
Claudia Lodovichi

Abstract

A unique feature in the organization of the olfactory system is the dual role of the odorant receptors: they detect odors in the nasal epithelium and they play an instructive role in the convergence of olfactory sensory neuron axons in specific loci, ie, glomeruli, in the olfactory bulb. The dual role is corroborated by the expression of the odorant receptors in 2 specific locations of the olfactory sensory neurons: the cilia that protrude in the nostril, where the odorant receptors interact with odors, and the axon terminal, a suitable location for a potential axon guidance molecule. The mechanism of activation and function of the odorant receptors expressed at the axon terminal remained unknown for almost 20 years. A recent study identified the first putative ligand of the axonal odorant receptors, phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein1, a molecule expressed in the olfactory bulb. The distinctive mechanisms of activation of the odorant receptors expressed at the opposite locations in sensory neurons, by odors, at the cilia, and by molecules expressed in the olfactory bulb, at the axon terminal, explain the dual role of the odorant receptors and link the specificity of odor perception with its internal representation, in th...Continue Reading

References

Nov 15, 1996·Cell·P MombaertsR Axel
Jun 5, 2004·Science·G BarneaR Axel
Apr 9, 2005·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Kazunari MiyamichiHitoshi Sakano
Sep 23, 2006·Science·Takeshi ImaiHitoshi Sakano
Feb 13, 2007·Brain Research Bulletin·Steven TherouxJan Klysik
Feb 17, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Micol MaritanClaudia Lodovichi
Aug 21, 2009·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Caroline DubacqAlain Trembleau
Jan 9, 2015·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Paolo LorenzonClaudia Lodovichi
Jul 5, 2019·Nature Structural & Molecular Biology·Christine E HoltErin M Schuman
Dec 26, 2019·Cell Reports·Ilaria ZamparoClaudia Lodovichi

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 14, 2021·Physiological Reviews·Ivan ManziniCorrado Di Natale

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
nuclear translocation

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Axon Guidance

Axon guidance is a complex neural developmental field that investigates mechanisms through which neurons send out axons to reach its target. Here is the latest research in this domain.

© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved