Linked Life Data

18595834

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/18595834

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
30
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-11-21
pubmed:abstractText
The olfactory system sensitively discerns scents from many small molecules as the brain analyses signals from nasal receptors. These receptors are selective to some degree, though the mechanism for selectivity is still controversial. Enantiomers, chiral pairs of left- and right-handed structures, are an important class of molecules in assessing proposed mechanisms. We show that there is a correlation between molecular (structural) flexibility and whether or not the left- and right-handed enantiomers smell the same. In particular, for the fairly extensive class of enantiomers with six-membered ring flexibility, enantiomers do not smell the same. There are, of course, significant experimental uncertainties, which we discuss here. We discuss models of receptor selectivity, both those based on shape and those where discrimination is based on other factors, such as electron affinity, proton affinity or vibration frequencies. The differences in scent of these enantiomers appear to be consistent with simple generalizations of a 'swipe card' model in which, while the shape must be good enough, critical information for actuation is a separate factor.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
1742-5689
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
6
pubmed:volume
6
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
75-86
pubmed:dateRevised
2010-9-21
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2009
pubmed:articleTitle
Odour character differences for enantiomers correlate with molecular flexibility.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. ucapjcb@ucl.ac.uk
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't