Quantification of interacting cognate odorants with olfactory receptors in nanovesicles

Sci Rep. 2017 Dec 13;7(1):17483. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-16997-9.

Abstract

This study aims to improve our understanding of the interaction between olfactory receptors and odorants to develop highly selective biosensing devices. Natural nanovesicles (NVs) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ~100 nm in diameter, carrying either the human OR17-40 or the chimpanzee OR7D4 olfactory receptor (OR) tagged with the c-myc epitope at their N-terminus, are presented as model systems to quantify the interaction between odorant and olfactory receptors. The level of expression of olfactory receptors was determined at individual NVs using a novel competitive ELISA immunoassay comparing the values obtained against those from techniques involving the solubilization of cell membrane proteins and the identification of c-myc-carrying receptors. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) measurements on L1 Biacore chips indicate that cognate odorants bind to their Ors, thereby quantifying the approximate number of odorants that interact with a given olfactory receptor. The selectivity of OR17-40-carrying NVs towards helional and OR7D4-carrying NVs towards androstenone has been proven in cross-check experiments with non-specific odorant molecules (heptanal and pentadecalactone, respectively) and in control receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Nanostructures
  • Odorants*
  • Pan troglodytes
  • Receptors, Odorant / chemistry
  • Receptors, Odorant / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Somatostatin / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Substances

  • Receptors, Odorant
  • Receptors, Somatostatin
  • somatostatin receptor 2