Interchromosomal interactions and olfactory receptor choice. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The expression of a single odorant receptor (OR) gene from a large gene family in individual sensory neurons is an essential feature of the organization and function of the olfactory system. We have used chromosome conformation capture to demonstrate the specific association of an enhancer element, H, on chromosome 14 with multiple OR gene promoters on different chromosomes. DNA and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments allow us to visualize the colocalization of the H enhancer with the single OR allele that is transcribed in a sensory neuron. In transgenic mice bearing additional H elements, sensory neurons that express OR pseudogenes also express a second functional receptor. These data suggest a model of receptor choice in which a single trans-acting enhancer element may allow the stochastic activation of only one OR allele in an olfactory sensory neuron.

publication date

  • July 28, 2006

Research

keywords

  • Chromosomes
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons
  • Receptors, Odorant

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 33746228114

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.cell.2006.06.035

PubMed ID

  • 16873069

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 126

issue

  • 2