OR10C1

OR10C1 is a gene that encodes a protein in the olfactory receptor family. This family is responsible for the detection of odorants in the nose, and is the largest gene family in the mammalian genome. The OR10C1 gene is specifically involved in the detection of certain odorants, although the exact odorants it detects are not yet known.

Structure

The OR10C1 gene is located on chromosome 1, and is approximately 1,000 base pairs long. It encodes a protein that is approximately 300 amino acids in length. The protein is a G protein-coupled receptor, which means it spans the cell membrane seven times and is involved in signal transduction.

Function

The OR10C1 protein is expressed in the olfactory epithelium, which is the tissue in the nose responsible for detecting odors. When an odorant binds to the OR10C1 protein, it triggers a signal transduction pathway that ultimately leads to the perception of smell. The exact odorants that the OR10C1 protein can detect are not yet known, but research is ongoing to identify them.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the OR10C1 gene have been associated with a reduced ability to smell, a condition known as anosmia. However, the exact role of the OR10C1 gene in anosmia is not yet fully understood, and more research is needed to clarify its role.

See also

• Olfactory receptor
• Anosmia
• G protein-coupled receptor