5200.1:
Development of bioassays for odorant molecule analysis
Abstract
Bioassays for the detection of odorant molecules will be developed using the specific recognition of odorants by natural olfactory receptors in either life biological cells or native membrae vesicles. Fluorescence spectroscopy and a novel silicon chip-based planar patch-clamp technology will be used to detect and evaluate the effect of odorant molecules via receptor activation and signal transduction reactions. A collection of different olfactory receptors derived from an expression library will deliver characteristic patterns of signaling responses as a fingerprint for individual or mixtures of odorant molecules.