OR5F1

OR5F1 is a gene that encodes a protein in humans. It is also known as Olfactory Receptor Family 5 Subfamily F Member 1. This gene is part of the olfactory receptor family, which is the largest gene family in the genome. The olfactory receptors interact with odorant molecules in the nose to initiate a neuronal response that triggers the perception of a smell.

Function[edit | edit source]

The OR5F1 gene provides instructions for making a protein that is part of the olfactory system, the body's mechanism for detecting and identifying smells. This protein is an olfactory receptor, which is a type of protein that recognizes and binds to specific odor molecules. When an odor molecule binds to an olfactory receptor, it triggers a series of chemical reactions inside the cell that lead to the perception of smell.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

While the specific function of OR5F1 is not well understood, mutations in this gene have been associated with a reduced ability to smell, a condition known as anosmia. Further research is needed to understand the role of OR5F1 in the olfactory system and how mutations in this gene may contribute to anosmia.