title: Mammalian odorant binding proteins.
abstract: Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) pertain to one of the most abundant classes of proteins found in the olfactory apparatus. OBPs are a sub-class of lipocalins, defined by their property of reversibly binding volatile chemicals, that we call 'odorants'. Numerous sequences of OBPs are now available, derived from protein sequencing from nasal mucus material, or from DNA sequences. The structural knowledge of OBPs has been improved too in recent years, with the availability of two X-ray structures. The physiological role of OBPs remains, however, essentially hypothetical, and most probably, not linked to a function of odor transport. The present knowledge on OBP biochemistry, sequence and structure will be examined here in relation to the different functional hypotheses proposed for OBPs.
authors.affiliation: Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, URA 9039-CNRS, IFRI, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tegoni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pelosi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Campanacci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grolli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cambillau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004220:Disulfides / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009812:Odorants; D011487:Protein Conformation; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D008024:Ligands; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C045648:odorant-binding protein