title: Mechanism of signal amplification in the olfactory sensory cilia.
abstract: Molecular mechanisms underlying olfactory signal amplification were investigated by monitoring cAMP dynamics in the intact sensory cilia. We saw that [cAMP]i increased superlinearly with time during odorant stimuli for >1 s. This time course was remarkably different from that obtained with the rapid quench method previously applied to the in vitro preparation, in which [cAMP]i change has been reported to be transient. The superlinear increase of [cAMP]i was attributable to a gradual increase of cAMP production rate that was consistent with the thermodynamical interaction model between elemental molecules, as has been revealed on the rod photoreceptor cell. It thus seems likely that the fundamental mechanism for molecular interactions between olfactory transduction elements is similar to that of the rod. In olfaction, however, cAMP production was extremely small (approximately 200,000 molecules/s/cell at the maximum), in contrast to the cGMP hydrolysis in the rod (250,000 molecules/photon). The observed numbers indicate that the olfactory receptor cell has lower amplification at the enzymatic cascade. Seemingly, such low amplification is a disadvantage for the signal transduction, but this unique mechanism would be essential to reduce the loss of ATP that is broadly used for the activities of cells. Apparently, transduction by a smaller number of second-messenger formations would be achieved by the fine ciliary structure that has a high surface-volume ratio. In addition, it is speculated that this low amplification at their enzymatic processes may be the reason why the olfactory receptor cell has acquired high amplification at the final stage of transduction channels, using Ca2+ as a third messenger.
authors.affiliation: Department of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan. hiroko@bpe.es.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurahashi
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D008024:Ligands; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009812:Odorants; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012455:Salamandridae; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D008024:Ligands; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases