title: Odor-evoked gene regulation and visualization in olfactory receptor neurons.
abstract: Odorant-evoked activity contributes to olfactory epithelium organization and axon targeting. We examined the consequences on gene expression of a genetic disruption of the channel responsible for olfactory transduction. Genes encoding calcium-binding EF-hand motifs, were among the most highly regulated transcripts consistent with the central role of Ca(2+) influx in neuronal depolarization. Several genes encoding integral membrane proteins are also highly regulated. One gene, Lrrc3b, was regulated more than 10-fold by odorant activity. Changes in expression occur within thirty minutes and are maintained for several hours. In genetic disruptions of Lrrc3b, a Lrrc3b-promoter-driven reporter adopts the activity-regulated expression of the endogenous gene. Individual olfactory glomeruli have a wide spectrum of activity levels that can be modulated by altering odor exposure. The Lrrc3b reporter mouse permits direct assessment of activity in identified glomeruli. In stable odorant environments, activity-regulated proteins provide a characteristic signature that is correlated with the olfactory receptor they express.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sensory Biology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 430 Rangos Building, 855 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Mosi K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kulaga
authors.forename: Randall R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009812:Odorants; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012903:Smell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C549958:Lrrc3b protein, rat; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018035:Receptors, Odorant