A5044302726- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Fermentation and Sensory Analysis
- Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich
2019-2024
University Hospital Heidelberg
2019-2020
Heidelberg University
2019-2020
Central Institute of Mental Health
2019-2020
Abstract The learning of stimulus-outcome associations allows for predictions about the environment. Ventral striatum and dopaminergic midbrain neurons form a larger network generating reward prediction signals from sensory cues. Yet, plasticity mechanisms to generate predictive in these distributed circuits have not been entirely clarified. Also, direct evidence underlying interregional assembly formation information transfer is still missing. Here we show that phasic dopamine sufficient...
Furanones formed during the Maillard reaction often are natural aroma-determining compounds found in numerous foods. Prominent economically relevant representatives structural homologues Furaneol and sotolone, which important flavoring because of their distinct caramel- seasoning-like odor qualities. These, however, cannot be predicted by odorants' molecular shape, rather receptors' activation parameters help to decipher encoding quality. Here, qualities sotolone suggested an at least two...
With approximately 400 encoding genes in humans, odorant receptors (ORs) are the largest subfamily of class A G protein-coupled (GPCRs). Despite its high relevance and representation, odorant-GPCRome is structurally poorly characterized: no experimental structures available, low sequence identity ORs to experimentally solved GPCRs a significant challenge for their modeling. Moreover, receptive range most unknown. The receptor OR5K1 was recently comprehensively characterized terms cognate...
Sulfur-containing compounds within a physiological relevant, natural odor space, such as the key food odorants, typically constitute group of volatiles with lowest thresholds. The observation that certain metals, copper, potentiate smell sulfur-containing, metal-coordinating odorants led to hypothesis their cognate receptors are metalloproteins. However, experimental evidence is sparse—so far, only one human odorant receptor, OR2T11, and few mouse receptors, have been reported be activated...
Mammals perceive a multitude of odorants by their chemical sense olfaction, high-dimensional stimulus-detection system, with hundreds narrowly or broadly tuned receptors, enabling pattern recognition the brain. Cognate receptor-agonist information, however, is sparse, and role odorant receptors for encoding odor quality remains elusive. Here, we screened IL-6-HaloTag®-OR2W1 haplotypes against 187 out 230 defined key food using GloSensor™ system in HEK-293 cells, yielding 48 new agonists....
4-Methylphenol is a food-related odor-active volatile with high recognition factor, due to its horse stable-like, fecal odor quality. Its ambivalent hedonic impact as key aroma compound, malodor, and semiochemical has spurred the search for cognate, chemosensory odorant receptors across species. A human receptor highly characteristic 4-methylphenol been elusive. Here, we identified characterized OR9Q2 be tuned purified 4-methylphenol, but not contaminant isomer 3-methylphenol. This selective...
Molecular recognition is a fundamental principle in biological systems. The olfactory detection of both food and predators via ecological relevant odorant cues are abilities eminent evolutionary significance for many species. Pyrazines such volatile cues, some which act as human-centered key odorants (KFOs) semiochemicals. A pyrazine-selective receptor has been elusive. Here we screened 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, KFO semiochemical, 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline, an innate...
Geosmin, a ubiquitous volatile sesquiterpenoid of microbiological origin, is causative for deteriorating the quality many foods, beverages, and drinking water, by eliciting an undesirable "earthy/musty" off-flavor. Moreover, across species from worm to human, geosmin volatile, chemosensory trigger both avoidance attraction behaviors, suggesting its role as semiochemical. Volatiles typically are detected receptors nose, which have evolved best detect ecologically relevant food-related...
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is one of the most important perennial fruit plants. The variety Riesling stands out by developing a characteristic petrol-like odor note during aging, elicited aroma compound 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN). UV-dependent TDN contents differ largely among Rieslings grown in northern versus southern hemisphere. Highest concentrations were found Australian Rieslings, where scoring ingredient. In contrast, from Europe, for example, may be tending cause...
The highly individual plasma membrane expression and cAMP signaling of odorant receptors have hampered their ligand assignment functional characterization in test cell systems. Chaperones been identified to support the surface only a portion receptors, with mechanisms remaining unclear. presence amino acid motifs that might be responsible for receptors' intracellular retention or expression, thus, signaling, is under debate: so far, no such protein suggested. Here, we demonstrate existence...
All living things speak chemistry. The challenge is to reveal the vocabulary, odorants that enable communication across phylogenies and translate them physiological, behavioral, ecological function. Olfactory receptors (ORs) interface animals with airborne odorants. Expression in heterologous cells makes it possible interrogate single ORs identify cognate ligands. cosmopolitan, anthropophilic strain of vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster depends on human resources housing for survival....
Abstract Subjects learn to assign value stimuli that predict outcomes. Novelty, rewards or punishment evoke reinforcing phasic dopamine release from midbrain neurons ventral striatum mediates expected and salience of in humans animals. It is however not clear whether sufficient form distinct engrams encode salient within these circuits. We addressed this question awake mice. Evoked induced plasticity selectively the population encoding coincidently presented increased their distinctness...
ABSTRACT With approximately 400 encoding genes in humans, odorant receptors (ORs) are the largest subfamily of class A G protein-coupled (GPCRs). Despite its high relevance and representation, odorant-GPCRome is structurally poorly characterized: no experimental structures available, low sequence identity ORs to experimentally solved GPCRs a significant challenge for their modeling. Moreover, receptive range most unknown. The receptor OR5K1 was recently comprehensively characterized terms...
All living things speak chemical. The challenge is to reveal the vocabulary, volatile odorant chemicals that enable communication across phylogenies and translate them physiological, behavioural ecological function. Olfactory receptors (ORs) interface animals with airborne odorants. Expression in heterologous cells makes it possible interrogate single ORs synthetic identify cognate ligands. cosmopolitan strain of vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster has accompanied human expansion out Africa....