Team:TU-Delft/part3
From 2012.igem.org
Introduction
Niacin olfactory receptor
The receptors GPR109A and GPR109B are known to bind the compound nicotinic acid [1]. It was previously described that GPR109B acts a low affinity receptor for nicotinic acid and GPR109A acts as a high affinity receptor for nicotinic acid and other compounds with related pharmacology [molecular identification of high and low affinity receptors]. The chemical compound methyl nicotinate is closely related to nicotinic acid. Because one of the compounds in the breath of tuberculosis patients is methyl nicotinate [2,3], the high affinity receptor for niacin is a good candidate for testing the ‘olfactory yeast’ as a diagnostics tool.
Isoamylacetate olfactory receptor
Human receptor OR1G1 and mouse receptor Olfr154 are known to bind the molecule Iso-amyl acetate, an odorant molecule having the banana smell.