All articles tagged with #olfactory neurons
The article discusses how transcriptional interference mechanisms ensure that each ant olfactory neuron expresses only one olfactory receptor, highlighting the complex regulation of receptor gene expression during neurogenesis.
A study in Nature reveals that olfactory sensory neurons achieve precise gene expression through stable, solid-like molecular condensates formed by specific DNA motifs and protein interactions, challenging previous liquid-phase models and potentially informing other stable gene expression systems.
A study conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine found a correlation between loss of smell and an increased risk of developing late-life depression. The study, spanning eight years and involving more than 2,000 older adults, doesn’t establish causality but suggests that an impaired sense of smell might indicate overall health and well-being. The findings also highlight the complex factors potentially influencing this relationship, such as poor cognition and inflammation. This revelation could lead to future intervention strategies to reduce the risk of late-life depression.
Researchers have mapped the 3D structure of a human odour receptor for the first time, offering insights into how the most enigmatic of our senses works. The study describes an olfactory receptor called OR51E2 and shows how it ‘recognizes’ the smell of cheese through specific molecular interactions that switch the receptor on. The human genome contains genes encoding 400 olfactory receptors that detect many odours, but little is known about how these receptors detect molecules and translate them into scents.