Question

Hydrocarbon Lab Post-Question:

Two of the compounds in this experiment had similar odors, yet their molecular structures are very different. Comment on factors at the molecular level that may be involved in the mechanism of smell. (Assume that a nerve impulse to the olfactory center of the brain is initiated by interaction of molecules, in this case the hydrocarbons, with a receptor in the nose.)

Answer 1

It is assumed that ordant molecules are identified by selectors protein receptors present in the nose which results in the trigger of nervous signal processed in the brain. The findings of these receptors in the early 90s helped in the understanding of the biochemical and physiological of olfaction.There are specific receptors which are located in olfactory cilia gets activated by the binding of odorant molecules. these receptors carries different amino acid sequence which helps it to bind to different odorant having different structures. As there are multiple family it results in having different olfactory receptors.

Neurons that expresses the same odorant odorant receptor genes responds to the same ordarant. In one of the study they found that these receptor genes are expressed in topologically different pattern in the olfactory epithelium. These olfactory epithelium is divided into different expression zones along dorsalventral and medial lateral areas in the nasal cavity. These zones are bilaterally symmetrical in the two cavities. each of these olfactory receptor genes is expressed in one olfactory neuron and these neurons are randomly located in each zone.