The cell biology of smell

The olfactory system detects and discriminates myriad chemical structures across a wide range of concentrations To meet this task, the system utilizes a large family of G protein coupled receptors the odorant receptors which are the chemical sensors underlying the perception of smell Interestingly, the odorant receptors are also involved in a number of developmental decisions, including the regulation of their own expression and the patterning of the olfactory sensory neurons' synaptic connections in the brain This review will focus on the diverse roles of the odorant receptor in the function and development of the olfactory system