title: Olfactory receptor screening assay using nanovesicle-immobilized carbon nanotube transistor.
abstract: Olfactory receptor (OR) genes are considered to be the largest superfamily of the mammalian genome, and in the case of humans, approximately 390 kinds of functional ORs play a role in perceiving odors. In spite of their significance in olfaction, the function of all ORs has not yet been fully revealed. In order to efficiently identify specific ligands of orphan ORs, methods that can generate olfactory signals in a reliable manner and that can convert the cellular signals into measurable responses are required. Here, we describe an OR screening assay method using olfactory sensors that are based on cell-derived nanovesicles combined with single-walled carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (SWNT-FETs). The nanovesicles contain ORs on their surface membrane and induce influx of calcium ions similar to olfactory signal transduction. This ion influx causes an electrical current change along the carbon nanotube, and then this change is measured by the SWNT-FET sensor. This technique facilitates the simple and rapid screening of OR functions.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-744, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Juhun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seunghun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Tai Hyun
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002417:Cattle; D003571:Cytochalasin B / Q000737:chemistry; D015870:Gene Expression; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D006801:Humans; D055616:Microtechnology; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D014162:Transfection; D014173:Transistors, Electronic
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D003571:Cytochalasin B; D012243:Rhodopsin; D012825:Silicon