Abstract
The mechanisms by which mammals discriminate a vast array of diverse odors are poorly understood. To gain insight into the organizational strategies underlying this discriminatory capacity, we have examined the spatial distribution of odorant receptor RNAs in the mouse olfactory epithelium. We have observed topographically distinct patterns of receptor RNAs suggesting that the nasal cavity is divided into a series of expression zones. The zones exhibit bilateral symmetry in the two nasal cavities and are organized along the dorsal-ventral and medial-lateral axes. Within each zone, a neuron may select a gene for expression from a zonal gene set via a stochastic mechanism. The observed zonal patterning may serve as an initial organizing step in olfactory sensory information coding.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Carrier Proteins / genetics*
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DNA / genetics
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DNA / isolation & purification
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Epithelial Cells
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Epithelium / physiology
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Female
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Gene Expression
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In Situ Hybridization
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Liver / physiology
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nasal Mucosa / cytology
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Nasal Mucosa / physiology*
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Nose / anatomy & histology
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Nose / physiology
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Odorants*
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
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RNA / genetics
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RNA / isolation & purification
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Receptors, Odorant*
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Restriction Mapping
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Substances
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Carrier Proteins
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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Receptors, Odorant
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odorant-binding protein
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RNA
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DNA
Associated data
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GENBANK/L14566
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GENBANK/L14567
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GENBANK/L14568
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GENBANK/L14569
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GENBANK/L33709
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GENBANK/S60902
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GENBANK/S60903
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GENBANK/S60904
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GENBANK/S60905
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GENBANK/S60924