A novel brain receptor is expressed in a distinct population of olfactory sensory neurons

• Published in: The European journal of neuroscience Vol. 12; no. 11; pp. 3926 - 3934
• Main Authors: Conzelmann, Sidonie, Levai, Olga, Bode, Barbara, Eisel, Ulrich, Raming, Klaus, Breer, Heinz, Strotmann, Jörg
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-11-2000; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Brain - cytology; Brain - physiology; Cell Membrane - physiology; G-protein-coupled receptor; Gene Library; Genes; Genomes; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; mouse; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; odourant receptor; olfactory bulb; olfactory epithelium; Olfactory Receptor Neurons - physiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; projection; Proteins; Receptors, Cell Surface - chemistry; Receptors, Cell Surface - genetics; Receptors, Cell Surface - physiology; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Recombinant Proteins - chemistry; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; RNA Probes; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Stem Cells - physiology; transgene; United States > US; Germany
• ISSN: 0953-816X; 1460-9568
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2000.00286.x

Three novel G‐protein‐coupled receptor genes related to the previously described RA1c gene have been isolated from the mouse genome. Expression of these genes has been detected in distinct areas of the brain and also in the olfactory epithelium of the nose. Developmental studies revealed a differential onset of expression: in the brain at embryonic stage 17, in the olfactory system at stage E12. In order to determine which cell type in the olfactory epithelium expresses this unique receptor type, a transgenic approach was employed which allowed a coexpression of histological markers together with the receptor and thus visualization of the appropriate cell population. It was found that the receptor‐expressing cells were located very close to the basal membrane of the epithelium; however, the cells extended a dendritic process to the epithelial surface and their axons projected into the main olfactory bulb where they converged onto two or three glomeruli in the dorsal and posterior region of the bulb. Thus, these data provide evidence that this unique type of receptor is expressed in mature olfactory neurons and suggests that it may be involved in the detection of special odour molecules.