A molecular structure-function investigation of major membrane channels involved in olfactory transduction

嗅觉受体神经元是非常敏感的传感器，可以检测到气味分子的微小浓度。 该项目旨在通过使用最先进的技术来扩展我们以前对这些专门的哺乳动物嗅觉细胞的研究：电生理学（膜片钳）和分子生物学（定点诱变），以研究它们的离子通道（选择性蛋白孔）和受体的分子结构如何有助于气味诱导产生电活动，这介导了我们的嗅觉（嗅觉）。 该项目对理解嗅觉具有特定的相关性，以及对其他感觉系统和其他离子通道的相关性。

Olfactory receptor neurons are extraordinarily-sensitive sensors for detecting minute concentrations of odorant molecules. This project aims to extend our previous studies of these specialised mammalian olfactory cells by using state-of-the art technologies: electrophysiology (patch-clamp) and molecular biology (site-directed-mutagenesis), to investigate how the molecular structure of their ion channels (selective protein pores) and receptors contribute to the odorant-induced generation of electrical activity, which mediates our sense of smell (olfaction). The project has specific relevance for understanding olfaction, as well as relevance for other sensory systems and other ion channels.