In lobster, two signaling pathways are known to exist downstream of the recognition of odor molecules by the sensory dendrites enclosed in aesthetascs. Specific odorants are able to trigger one or both of these pathways, which are thought to co-exist in many olfactory neurons. This proposal addresses the role of several of the signaling proteins in each pathway and examines the possibility of biochemical interactions between the pathways. The functional properties of each component will be assessed through a combination of recombinant DNA, biochemical and electrophysiological techniques. The ability of G protein subunits to associate with distinct dimers and thereby activate one or other signal pathway will be examined, as will the phosphorylation of key proteins in vitro and in intact sensory hairs following stimulation with odorants. Many of the key components of the two signaling systems were cloned during the previous funding period. The Principal Investigator will transfect mutant forms of these proteins into primary cultured olfactory neurons to assess whether they have predicted effects on olfactory transduction.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DC002366-06S1
Application #
6211768
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1 (01))
Program Officer
Davis, Barry
Project Start
1994-04-01
Project End
2004-06-30
Budget Start
2000-01-15
Budget End
2000-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$26,248
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Kentucky
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
832127323
City
Lexington
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40506
Ferrari, Michele; Folli, Claudia; Pincolini, Elisa et al. (2012) Structural characterization of recombinant crustacyanin subunits from the lobster Homarus americanus. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 68:846-53
Dickinson, Patsy S; Stemmler, Elizabeth A; Barton, Elizabeth E et al. (2009) Molecular, mass spectral, and physiological analyses of orcokinins and orcokinin precursor-related peptides in the lobster Homarus americanus and the crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Peptides 30:297-317
Stepanyan, Ruben; Haley, Shannon B; McClintock, Timothy S (2005) Olfactory specific chymotrypsin-like serine protease from the aesthetasc tegumental gland of the lobster, Homarus americanus. Cell Tissue Res 322:321-30
Hollins, Bettye; Hardin, Debra; Gimelbrant, Alexander A et al. (2003) Olfactory-enriched transcripts are cell-specific markers in the lobster olfactory organ. J Comp Neurol 455:125-38