title: Structure and biotechnological applications of odorant-binding proteins.
abstract: Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are small soluble polypeptides found in sensory organs of vertebrates and insects as well as in secretory glands and are dedicated to detection and release of chemical stimuli. OBPs of vertebrates belong to the family of lipocalin proteins, while those of insects are folded into α-helical domains. Both types of architectures are extremely stable to temperature, organic solvents and proteolytic digestion. These characteristics make OBPs suitable elements for fabricating biosensors to be used in the environment, as well as for other biotechnological applications. The affinity of OBPs for small volatile organic compounds is in the micromolar range, and they have broad specificity to a range of ligands. For biotechnological applications, OBPs can be expressed in bacterial systems at low cost and are easily purified. The large amount of information available on their structures and affinities to different molecules should allow the design of specific mutants with desired characteristics and represent a solid base for tailoring OBPs for different applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy, paolo.pelosi@unipi.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pelosi
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mastrogiacomo
authors.forename: Immacolata
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iovinella
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tuccori
authors.forename: Krishna C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Persaud
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D007313:Insecta; D008958:Models, Molecular; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D055550:Protein Stability; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D014714:Vertebrates; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050505:Mutant Proteins; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C045648:odorant-binding protein