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Gusach A, Lee Y, Khoshgrudi AN, Mukhaleva E, Ma N, Koers EJ, Chen Q, Edwards PC, Huang F, Kim J, Mancia F, Veprintsev DB, Vaidehi N, Weyand SN, Tate CG. Molecular recognition of an odorant by the murine trace amine-associated receptor TAAR7f. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7555. [PMID: 39215004 PMCID: PMC11364543 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51793-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
There are two main families of G protein-coupled receptors that detect odours in humans, the odorant receptors (ORs) and the trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs). Their amino acid sequences are distinct, with the TAARs being most similar to the aminergic receptors such as those activated by adrenaline, serotonin, dopamine and histamine. To elucidate the structural determinants of ligand recognition by TAARs, we have determined the cryo-EM structure of a murine receptor, mTAAR7f, coupled to the heterotrimeric G protein Gs and bound to the odorant N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA) to an overall resolution of 2.9 Å. DMCHA is bound in a hydrophobic orthosteric binding site primarily through van der Waals interactions and a strong charge-charge interaction between the tertiary amine of the ligand and an aspartic acid residue. This site is distinct and non-overlapping with the binding site for the odorant propionate in the odorant receptor OR51E2. The structure, in combination with mutagenesis data and molecular dynamics simulations suggests that the activation of the receptor follows a similar pathway to that of the β-adrenoceptors, with the significant difference that DMCHA interacts directly with one of the main activation microswitch residues, Trp6.48.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Gusach
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Yang Lee
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Armin Nikpour Khoshgrudi
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, NG7 2RD, UK
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Elizaveta Mukhaleva
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, 1218 S 5th Ave, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA
| | - Ning Ma
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, 1218 S 5th Ave, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA
| | - Eline J Koers
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, NG7 2RD, UK
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Qingchao Chen
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Patricia C Edwards
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Fanglu Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Kim
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Filippo Mancia
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Dmitry B Veprintsev
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, NG7 2RD, UK
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Nagarajan Vaidehi
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, 1218 S 5th Ave, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA
| | - Simone N Weyand
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Building, Heart & Lung Research Institute, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0BB, UK.
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Keith Peters Building, Biomedical Campus, Hills Rd, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, UK.
- EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SD, UK.
| | - Christopher G Tate
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
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Park SJ, Greer PL, Lee N. From odor to oncology: non-canonical odorant receptors in cancer. Oncogene 2024; 43:304-318. [PMID: 38087050 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02908-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Odorant receptors, traditionally associated with olfaction as chemoreceptors, have been increasingly recognized for their presence and diverse functions in various non-nasal tissues throughout the body. Beyond their roles in sensory perception, emerging evidence suggests a compelling interplay between odorant receptors and cancer progression as well. Alongside the canonical GPCR odorant receptors, dysregulation of non-canonical odorant receptors such as trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs), formyl peptide receptors (FPRs), and membrane-spanning 4A family (MS4As) has been observed in various cancer types, suggesting their contributions to cancer progression. The roles of these non-canonical chemoreceptors in cancer are complex, with some receptors promoting tumorigenesis and others acting as tumor-suppressing factors upon activation, depending on the cancer type. These findings shed light on the potential of non-canonical odorant receptors as therapeutic targets and prognostic markers in cancer, inviting further exploration to unravel their precise mechanisms of action and implications in cancer biology. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the intricate relationships between these chemoreceptors and various types of cancer, potentially paving the way for innovative odor-based therapeutics. Ultimately, this review discusses the potential development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting these non-canonical chemoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Jin Park
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Paul L Greer
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Namgyu Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan, 31116, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Zala SM, Church B, Potts WK, Knauer F, Penn DJ. Female scent accelerates growth of juvenile male mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7371. [PMID: 37147391 PMCID: PMC10163255 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34548-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposing female house mice (Mus musculus) to male urinary scent accelerates their sexual development (Vandenbergh effect). Here, we tested whether exposing juvenile male mice to females' urine similarly influences male growth and size of their sexual organs. We exposed three-week old male house mice to female urine or water (control) for ca. three months. We found that female-exposed males grew significantly faster and gained more body mass than controls, despite all males being reared on a controlled diet, but we detected no differences in males' muscle mass or sexual organs. In contrast, exposing juvenile males to male urine had no effect their growth. We tested whether the males' accelerated growth imposed functional trade-offs on males' immune resistance to an experimental infection. We challenged the same male subjects with an avirulent bacterial pathogen (Salmonella enterica), but found no evidence that faster growth impacted their bacterial clearance, body mass or survival during infection compared to controls. Our results provide the first evidence to our knowledge that juvenile male mice accelerate their growth when exposed to the urine of adult females, though we found no evidence that increased growth had negative trade-offs on immune resistance to infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Zala
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1a, 1160, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
| | - Brian Church
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Wayne K Potts
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Felix Knauer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dustin J Penn
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1a, 1160, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
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Pheromones that correlate with reproductive success in competitive conditions. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21970. [PMID: 34754031 PMCID: PMC8578420 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01507-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The major urinary proteins (MUPs) of house mice (Mus musculus) bind and stabilize the release of pheromones and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from urinary scent marks, which mediate chemical communication. Social status influences MUP and VOC excretion, and the urinary scent of dominant males is attractive to females. Urinary pheromones influence the sexual behavior and physiology of conspecifics, and yet it is not known whether they also affect reproductive success. We monitored the excretion of urinary protein and VOCs of wild-derived house mice living in large seminatural enclosures to compare the sexes and to test how these compounds correlate with reproductive success. Among males, urinary protein concentration and VOC expression correlated with reproductive success and social status. Territorial dominance also correlated with reproductive success in both sexes; but among females, no urinary compounds were found to correlate with social status or reproductive success. We found several differences in the urinary protein and volatile pheromones of mice in standard cages versus seminatural enclosures, which raises caveats for conventional laboratory studies. These findings provide novel evidence for chemical signals that correlate with male reproductive success of house mice living in competitive conditions.
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Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158311. [PMID: 34361077 PMCID: PMC8347621 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammalian reproduction, sexually active males seek female conspecifics, while estrous females try to approach males. This sex-specific response tendency is called sexual preference. In small rodents, sexual preference cues are mainly chemosensory signals, including pheromones. In this article, we review the physiological mechanisms involved in sexual preference for opposite-sex chemosensory signals in well-studied laboratory rodents, mice, rats, and hamsters of both sexes, especially an overview of peripheral sensory receptors, and hormonal and central regulation. In the hormonal regulation section, we discuss potential rodent brain bisexuality, as it includes neural substrates controlling both masculine and feminine sexual preferences, i.e., masculine preference for female odors and the opposite. In the central regulation section, we show the substantial circuit regulating sexual preference and also the influence of sexual experience that innate attractants activate in the brain reward system to establish the learned attractant. Finally, we review the regulation of sexual preference by neuropeptides, oxytocin, vasopressin, and kisspeptin. Through this review, we clarified the contradictions and deficiencies in our current knowledge on the neuroendocrine regulation of sexual preference and sought to present problems requiring further study.
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Fei A, Wu W, Tan L, Tang C, Xu Z, Huo X, Bao H, Kong Y, Johnson M, Hartmann G, Talay M, Yang C, Riegler C, Herrera KJ, Engert F, Xie XS, Barnea G, Liberles SD, Yang H, Li Q. Coordination of two enhancers drives expression of olfactory trace amine-associated receptors. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3798. [PMID: 34145235 PMCID: PMC8213717 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23823-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) are functionally defined by their expression of a unique odorant receptor (OR). Mechanisms underlying singular OR expression are well studied, and involve a massive cross-chromosomal enhancer interaction network. Trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) form a distinct family of olfactory receptors, and here we find that mechanisms regulating Taar gene choice display many unique features. The epigenetic signature of Taar genes in TAAR OSNs is different from that in OR OSNs. We further identify that two TAAR enhancers conserved across placental mammals are absolutely required for expression of the entire Taar gene repertoire. Deletion of either enhancer dramatically decreases the expression probabilities of different Taar genes, while deletion of both enhancers completely eliminates the TAAR OSN populations. In addition, both of the enhancers are sufficient to drive transgene expression in the partially overlapped TAAR OSNs. We also show that the TAAR enhancers operate in cis to regulate Taar gene expression. Our findings reveal a coordinated control of Taar gene choice in OSNs by two remote enhancers, and provide an excellent model to study molecular mechanisms underlying formation of an olfactory subsystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimei Fei
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanqing Wu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Longzhi Tan
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cheng Tang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brian-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengrong Xu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaona Huo
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brian-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongqiang Bao
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yalei Kong
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mark Johnson
- Department of Neuroscience, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Griffin Hartmann
- Department of Neuroscience, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Mustafa Talay
- Department of Neuroscience, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Cheng Yang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Clemens Riegler
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kristian J Herrera
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Florian Engert
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - X Sunney Xie
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gilad Barnea
- Department of Neuroscience, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Stephen D Liberles
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hui Yang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brian-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Li
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai, China.
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Genetic Deletion of Trace-Amine Associated Receptor 9 (TAAR9) in Rats Leads to Decreased Blood Cholesterol Levels. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22062942. [PMID: 33799339 PMCID: PMC7998418 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last two decades, interest has grown significantly in the investigation of the role of trace amines and their receptors in mammalian physiology and pathology. Trace amine-associated receptor 9 (TAAR9) is one of the least studied members of this receptor family with unidentified endogenous ligands and an unknown role in the central nervous system and periphery. In this study, we generated two new TAAR9 knockout (TAAR9-KO) rat strains by CRISPR-Cas9 technology as in vivo models to evaluate the role of TAAR9 in mammalian physiology. In these mutant rats, we performed a comparative analysis of a number of hematological and biochemical parameters in the blood. Particularly, we carried out a complete blood count, erythrocyte osmotic fragility test, and screening of a panel of basic biochemical parameters. No significant alterations in any of the hematological and most biochemical parameters were found between mutant and WT rats. However, biochemical studies revealed a significant decrease in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the blood of both strains of TAAR9-KO rats. Such role of TAAR9 in cholesterol regulation not only brings a new understanding of mechanisms and biological pathways of lipid exchange but also provides a new potential drug target for disorders involving cholesterol-related pathology, such as atherosclerosis.
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8
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Hayashi H, Kumagai R, Kondo Y. Why does castrated male odor attract sexually active male rats?-Attractivity induced by hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis block. Physiol Behav 2020; 230:113288. [PMID: 33321143 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sexually experienced male rats show an olfactory preference for estrous female odor compared to male odor. Notably, they also prefer castrated male over gonadally intact male odor. This study examined the role of elevated circulating gonadotropins and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) induced by disinhibition of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis in the castration-induced attractiveness of male rats. Experiment I compared preference of sexually experienced males between odors of castrated males injected with a GnRH antagonist (Cast+Ant), castrated males injected with saline (Cast), and gonadally intact males (Sham). These olfactory preference tests revealed that probe males significantly preferred Cast over Sham and Cast+Ant odors but had no preference between Sham and Cast+Ant odors. Experiment II used hypophysectomy (HPx) to remove the gonadotropin source in place of pharmacologically antagonizing GnRH. Similarly, the probe males preferred Cast (high both GnRH and gonadotropins) over HPx (high GnRH but no gonadotropin) odors, but also preferred HPx than Sham (low both GnRH and gonadotropins) odors. We then examined the effects of exogenous gonadotropins, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), to reveal which gonadotropins critically affect on the attractiveness of HPx males. The olfactory preference tests revealed that injecting eCG, but not hCG, significantly increased the probe males` preference compared to HPx male odor, suggesting that the attractiveness is augmented via follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor rather than luteinizing hormone receptor. These results indicate that sexually active male rats show olfactory preference for castrated male rats due to elevated GnRH and FSH blood levels produced by a lack of androgens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himeka Hayashi
- Department of Animal Sciences, Teikyo University of Science, 2525 Yatsusawa, Uenohara, Yamanashi 409-0193, Japan
| | - Ryoko Kumagai
- Department of Animal Sciences, Teikyo University of Science, 2525 Yatsusawa, Uenohara, Yamanashi 409-0193, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Kondo
- Department of Animal Sciences, Teikyo University of Science, 2525 Yatsusawa, Uenohara, Yamanashi 409-0193, Japan.
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9
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Dewan A. Olfactory signaling via trace amine-associated receptors. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 383:395-407. [PMID: 33237477 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03331-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) are a family of G protein-coupled receptors that function as odorant receptors in the main olfactory system of vertebrates. TAARs are monoallelically expressed in primary sensory neurons where they couple to the same transduction cascade as canonical olfactory receptors and are mapped onto glomeruli within a specific region of the olfactory bulb. TAARs have a high affinity for volatile amines, a class of chemicals that are generated during the decomposition of proteins and are ubiquitous physiological metabolites that are found in body fluids. Thus, amines are proposed to play an important role in intra- and interspecific communication such as signaling the sex of the conspecific, the quality of the food source, or even the proximity of a predator. TAARs have a crucial role in the perception of these behaviorally relevant compounds as the genetic deletion of all or even individual olfactory TAARs can alter the behavioral response and reduce the sensitivity to amines. The small size of this receptor family combined with the ethological relevance of their ligands makes the TAARs an attractive model system for probing olfactory perception. This review will summarize the current knowledge on the olfactory TAARs and discuss whether they represent a unique subsystem within the main olfactory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Dewan
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
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10
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Abstract
Trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) are a family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates. The first discovered TAAR1 is mainly expressed in the brain, and is able to detect low abundant trace amines. TAAR1 is also activated by several synthetic compounds and psychostimulant drugs like amphetamine. Activation of TAAR1 by specific agonists can regulate the classical monoaminergic systems in the brain. Further studies have revealed that other TAAR family members are highly expressed in the olfactory system which are termed olfactory TAARs. In vertebrates, olfactory TAARs can specifically recognize volatile or water-soluble amines. Some of these TAAR agonists are produced by decarboxylation of amino acids. In addition, some TAAR agonists are ethological odors that mediate animal innate behaviors. In this study, we provide a comprehensive review of TAAR agonists, including their structures, biosynthesis pathways, and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengrong Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, China
- Research Institute of Otolaryngology, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Qian Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
- Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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11
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Santos PSC, Mezger M, Kolar M, Michler FU, Sommer S. The best smellers make the best choosers: mate choice is affected by female chemosensory receptor gene diversity in a mammal. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:20182426. [PMID: 30963892 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The products of the genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are known to be drivers of pathogen resistance and sexual selection enhancing offspring genetic diversity. The MHC further influences individual odour types and social communication. However, little is known about the receptors and their volatile ligands that are involved in this type of chemical communication. Here, we have investigated chemosensory receptor genes that ultimately enable females to assess male genes through odour cues. As a model, we used an invasive population of North American raccoons ( Procyon lotor) in Germany. We investigated the effect of two groups of chemosensory receptor genes-trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) and olfactory receptors (ORs)-on MHC-dependent mate choice. Females with more alleles of the TAAR or OR loci were more likely to choose a male with a diverse MHC. We additionally found that MHC class I genes have a stronger effect on mate choice than the recently reported effect for MHC class II genes, probably because of their immunological relevance for viral resistance. Our study is among the first to show a genetic link between behaviour and chemosensory receptor genes. These results contribute to understanding the link between genetics, olfaction and associated life-history decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo S C Santos
- 1 Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany
| | - Maja Mezger
- 1 Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany
| | - Miriam Kolar
- 1 Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany
| | - Frank-Uwe Michler
- 2 Institute of Forest Botany and Forest Zoology, Technical University of Dresden , Tharandt , Germany
| | - Simone Sommer
- 1 Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany
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12
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Nagnan-Le Meillour P, Joly A, Le Danvic C, Marie A, Zirah S, Cornard JP. Binding Specificity of Native Odorant-Binding Protein Isoforms Is Driven by Phosphorylation and O-N-Acetylglucosaminylation in the Pig Sus scrofa. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:816. [PMID: 30740091 PMCID: PMC6355697 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Odorant-binding proteins (OBP) are secreted in the nasal mucus at the vicinity of olfactory receptors (ORs). They act, at least, as an interface between hydrophobic and volatile odorant molecules and the hydrophilic medium bathing the ORs. They have also been hypothesized to be part of the molecular coding of odors and pheromones, by forming specific complexes with odorant molecules that could ultimately stimulate ORs to trigger the olfactory transduction cascade. In a previous study, we have evidenced that pig olfactory secretome was composed of numerous olfactory binding protein isoforms, generated by O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation. In addition, we have shown that recombinant OBP (stricto sensu) produced in yeast is made up of a mixture of isoforms that differ in their phosphorylation pattern, which in turn determines binding specificity. Taking advantage of the high amount of OBP secreted by a single animal, we performed a similar study, under exactly the same experimental conditions, on native isoforms isolated from pig, Sus scrofa, nasal tissue. Four fractions were obtained by using strong anion exchange HPLC. Mapping of phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation sites by CID-nanoLC-MS/MS allowed unambiguous localization of phosphosites at S13 and T122 and HexNAc sites at S13 and S19. T112 or T115 could also be phosphorylated. BEMAD analysis suggested extra phosphosites located at S23, S24, S41, S49, S57, S67, and T71. Due to the very low stoichiometry of GlcNAc-peptides and phosphopeptides, these sites were identified on total mixture of OBP isoforms instead of HPLC-purified OBP isoforms. Nevertheless, binding properties of native OBP isoforms to specific ligands in S. scrofa were monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy. Recombinant phosphorylated OBP-Pichia isoforms bind steroids and fatty acids with slight differences. Native isoforms, that are phosphorylated but also O-GlcNAcylated show radically different binding affinities for the same compounds, which strongly suggests that O-GlcNAcylation increases the binding specificity of OBP isoforms. These findings extend the role of O-GlcNAc in regulating the function of proteins involved in many mechanisms of metabolic homeostasis, including extracellular signaling in olfaction. Data is available via ProteomeXChange with identifier PXD011371.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Nagnan-Le Meillour
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, UMR8576, USC-UGSF INRA 1409, CNRS-Université de Lille, Lille, France
- *Correspondence: Patricia Nagnan-Le Meillour
| | - Alexandre Joly
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, UMR8576, USC-UGSF INRA 1409, CNRS-Université de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Chrystelle Le Danvic
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, UMR8576, USC-UGSF INRA 1409, CNRS-Université de Lille, Lille, France
- ALLICE R&D, Paris, France
| | - Arul Marie
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7245 CNRS/MNHN, Paris, France
| | - Séverine Zirah
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7245 CNRS/MNHN, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Paul Cornard
- Laboratoire de Spectroscopie Infrarouge et Raman, UMR8516 CNRS-Université de Lille, Lille, France
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