Our noses can effortlessly distinguish the aroma of coffee from the tang of gasoline, yet how they do it has long been a mystery.
In a study that appeared Oct. 30 in Nature, MGM's Hiroaki Matsunami, MGM alum Claire de March, and colleagues at UCSF and City of Hope provide a glimpse into the complex mechanics that enable the nose to decode an astonishing range of odors with precision.
The team designed four model receptors based on the shapes of the 400 odorant receptors (ORs), then took snapshots at atomic-level resolution as the receptors encountered scent molecules.
Some receptors in the body work with rigidity and precision, but the model ORs were dynamic and flexible.
Dr. Matsunami says, "This work has greatly benefited from interactions with our MGM colleagues through monthly research meetings, retreats, and neurogenetics meetings. I would also like to thank to those who have shown interest in our work!"
Click here to read more about the study.