| Modification Notes |
Olfactory receptors are G protein-coupled receptor proteins that localize to the cilia of olfactory sensory neurons where they display affinity for and bind to a variety of odor molecules. The genes encoding olfactory receptors comprise the largest family in the human genome. The binding of olfactory receptor proteins to odor molecules triggers a signal transduction cascade that leads to the production of cAMP via an olfactory-enriched adenylate cyclase. This event ultimately leads to transmission of action potentials to the brain and the subsequent perception of smell. OR5H2 (Olfactory receptor 5H2), also known as Olfactory receptor OR3-10, is a 314 amino acid multi-pass membrane protein that functions as an odorant receptor, effectively binding odor molecules and initiating the propagation of signals to the primary olfactory cortex. The gene encoding OR5H2 maps to human chromosome 3, which spans 200 million base pairs and encodes between 1,100 and 1,500 genes. |