OR9I1

OR9I1 is a gene that in humans is encoded by the olfactory receptor family 9 subfamily I member 1. The gene is also known as olfactory receptor 9I1 (OR9I1). Olfactory receptors interact with odorant molecules in the nose, to initiate a neuronal response that triggers the perception of a smell. The olfactory receptor proteins are members of a large family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) arising from single coding-exon genes.

Function[edit | edit source]

Olfactory receptors share a 7-transmembrane domain structure with many neurotransmitter and hormone receptors and are responsible for the recognition and G protein-mediated transduction of odorant signals. The olfactory receptor gene family is the largest in the genome. The nomenclature assigned to the olfactory receptor genes and proteins for this organism is independent of other organisms.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

While the specific function of OR9I1 in humans is not fully understood, it is believed to play a role in the complex system of smell. Mutations in this gene, as with other olfactory receptors, could play a role in disorders of the sense of smell, or anosmia.