Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) is a scavenger receptor expressed in various vertebrate cells that contains diverse ligands, including long-chain fatty acids. This receptor has recently been suggested as a captor of specific volatile odorants (e.g., aliphatic acetates) in the mammalian nasal epithelium. This study used a fluorescence-intensifying assay to produce the first evidence that lauric acid, an odorous fatty acid, directly binds to CD36. This expansion of the repertoire of volatile ligands supports potential applications for nasal CD36. Our present findings could promote future research aimed at understanding the mechanisms of fatty acid interactions with CD36.
Keywords: CD36; binding interaction; fluorescence-intensifying assay; lauric acid; odor-active aliphatic compounds.