LUSH shapes up for a starring role in olfaction

Cell. 2008 Jun 27;133(7):1137-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2008.06.010.

Abstract

In the fruit fly Drosophila, odorant-binding proteins are secreted into the fluid that bathes olfactory neurons. Laughlin et al. (2008) now challenge the assumption that the odorant-binding protein LUSH passively transports its pheromone to a specific olfactory receptor. Instead, LUSH undergoes a conformational change upon pheromone binding that is sufficient for neuronal activation.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / metabolism*
  • Pheromones / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Receptors, Odorant / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Odorant / metabolism*
  • Smell*

Substances

  • Pheromones
  • Receptors, Odorant
  • odorant-binding protein