A genome-wide study on the perception of the odorants androstenone and galaxolide

Chem Senses. 2012 Jul;37(6):541-52. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjs008. Epub 2012 Feb 23.

Abstract

Twin pairs and their siblings rated the intensity of the odorants amyl acetate, androstenone, eugenol, Galaxolide, mercaptans, and rose (N = 1573). Heritability was established for ratings of androstenone (h (2) = 0.30) and Galaxolide (h(2) = 0.34) but not for the other odorants. Genome-wide association analysis using 2.3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms indicated that the most significant association was between androstenone and a region without known olfactory receptor genes (rs10966900, P = 1.2 × 10(-7)). A previously reported association between the olfactory receptor OR7D4 and the androstenone was not detected until we specifically typed this gene (P = 1.1 × 10(-4)). We also tested these 2 associations in a second independent sample of subjects and replicated the results either fully (OR7D4, P = 0.00002) or partially (rs10966900, P = 0.010; N = 266). These findings suggest that 1) the perceived intensity of some but not all odorants is a heritable trait, 2) use of a current genome-wide marker panel did not detect a known olfactory genotype-phenotype association, and 3) person-to-person differences in androstenone perception are influenced by OR7D4 genotype and perhaps by variants of other genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Androsterone / pharmacology*
  • Benzopyrans / pharmacology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Genome-Wide Association Study*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Odorants / analysis*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics
  • Receptors, Odorant / genetics*
  • Receptors, Odorant / metabolism
  • Siblings
  • Smell / drug effects*
  • Smell / genetics*
  • Smell / physiology
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Benzopyrans
  • Receptors, Odorant
  • galaxolide
  • Androsterone