The present status of the 'carrier hypothesis' for chemosensory recognition of genetic individuality.
The hypothesis that soluble MHC Class I molecules could act as the vector which transports MHC-specific odours from the blood into the urine was put forward some ten years ago (Singh, Brown & Roser, 1987). Here, I summarise new evidence in favour of the hypothesis. 'We propose that the ability of MHC Class I molecules to associate in a selective way with other small molecules could also be the mechanism by which a unique mixture of volatile, endogenous metabolites is transported by [soluble] class I MHC glycoproteins from the blood into the urine' (Singh, Brown & Roser, 1987).
Singh
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PB
Department of Development and Genetics, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK.
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000652:urine; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D012903:Smell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I