title: Olfactory-specific cytochrome P-450. cDNA cloning of a novel neuroepithelial enzyme possibly involved in chemoreception.
abstract: We isolated cDNA clones for cytochrome P-450 genes expressed in the olfactory neuroepithelium by screening a corresponding rat cDNA library. Sequence analysis and RNA blot hybridization revealed a new cytochrome P-450, designated cytochrome P-450olf1, which is the first reported cytochrome P-450 mRNA uniquely expressed in the chemosensory organ. Cytochrome P-450olf1 shows intermediate level of sequence similarity (38-53% identity) to several liver cytochrome P-450 enzymes, suggesting that it belongs to the cytochrome P-450II family, but defines a new subfamily (cytochrome P-450IIG) within it. Cytochrome P-450II enzymes are known to process diverse organic compounds, including odorants. This, together with the specificity of cytochrome P-450olf1 to the sensory neuroepithelium, may indicate a role for this protein in olfactory reception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Membrane Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nef
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heldman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazard
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Margalit
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaye
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hanukoglu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lancet
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002417:Cattle; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D012995:Solubility; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System