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Olfactory Receptors pp 241–249Cite as

Evolution of Olfactory Receptors

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1003))

Abstract

Olfactory receptors are a specialized set of receptor cells responsible for the detection of odors. These cells are G protein-coupled receptors and expressed in the cell membranes of olfactory sensory neurons. Once a cell is activated by a ligand, it initiates a signal transduction cascade that produces a nerve impulse to the brain where odor perception is processed. Vertebrate olfactory evolution is characterized by birth-and-death events, a special case of the stochastic continuous time Markov process. Vertebrate fish have three general types of receptor cells (two dedicated to pheromones). Terrestrial animals have different epithelial biology due to the specialized adaptation to detecting airborne odors. Two general classes of olfactory receptor gene reflect the vertebrate marine heritage (Class I) and the derived amphibian, reptile, and mammal terrestrial heritage (Class II). While we know much about olfactory receptor cells, there are still areas where our knowledge is insufficient, such as intra-individual diversity throughout the life time, epigenetic processes acting on olfactory receptors, and association of ligands to specific cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anthropology Department, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA

    Kara C. Hoover

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  1. Kara C. Hoover
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Genetics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, 20th Street South 720, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA

    Chiquito J. Crasto

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Hoover, K.C. (2013). Evolution of Olfactory Receptors. In: Crasto, C. (eds) Olfactory Receptors. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1003. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-377-0_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-377-0_18

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-376-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-377-0

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