Olfactory Receptor

Olfactory receptors (ORs) are a class of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) located in the nasal olfactory epithelium, belonging to class A of GPCRs with seven transmembrane helix structures, primarily responsible for detecting odor molecules. These receptors initiate a series of signal transduction events by activating G proteins and generating cAMP, leading to the production of electrical signals in olfactory neurons, which are ultimately interpreted as specific smells by the brain. Humans encode about 400 types of olfactory receptors, divided into two major subfamilies: Class I and Class II olfactory receptors.
Olfactory receptors play roles in various diseases, including olfactory loss or disorders (such as temporary olfactory loss caused by colds or rhinitis), metabolic diseases (studies have shown that some olfactory receptors regulate glucose metabolism in diabetes and obesity), and cancer (abnormal expression of olfactory receptors is related to the development of various cancers, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer). These studies not only provide a deep understanding of the functions of the olfactory system but may also offer new strategies for researching related diseases^[1].