Olfaction & Perception

"Press Release: The 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine".

Nobelprize.org. 19 Oct 2012 http://www.nobelprize.org/
nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2004/press.html

Odor molecules are generally:

Detectable - Volatile!
< 300 g/mol
Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic

The Cell Surface

O

O
P
O
O

O
O

phosphatidylcholine

NH2
HO
OH

Hydrophillic
end

sphingosine

Hydrophobic end
O
HN
HO
OH

ceramide

O
HN
N

O
O

O
O

OH
sphingomyelin

H
H

HO
cholesterol

Phospholipid Bilayer

H2O

H2O

Cellular contents are isolated

from extracellular environment

Olfactory Receptors

and the

7-Transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor proteins (GCPR)
Extracellular

Hydrophillic Region

Hydrophobic Region

Lipid bilayer

Receptor
protein
Intracellular Hydrophillic Region

Cholesterol

G-protein-coupled receptors (7-TM receptors)

Structure - Single protein with 7 transmembrane regions
Extracellular
loops

NH2
N -Terminal chain

Membrane

VII

VI

IV

III

II

G-Protein
binding region
HO2C
C -Terminal chain

Intracellular loops

Transmembrane
helix

O
ot ~ 0.00063 ppb

ot ~ 0.001 ppb

ot ~ 61 ppb
O

O
ot ~ 0.44 ppb

ot ~ 0.13 ppb

Molecular Weight: 258.40

ot ~ 223 ppb

Molecular Weight: 238.41

caraway

spearmint
(S)-Carvone

(R)-Carvone

Olfactory Receptors
and the
7-Transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor proteins (GCPR)

The cAMP Transduction Cascade

Interaction of receptor with G-protein
Ligand

Cell membrane
Receptor

Ligand
binding
Induced
fit

G-protein
binds

Induced
fit for
G-protein

G Protein

GDP

Binding site for G-protein opens

= GDP

Guanosine diphosphate

Guanosine triphosphate

GTP

GTP binds

Binding site recognizes GTP

Fragmentation
and release

Induced fit
G-protein alters -subunit shape
Complex destabilized

Interaction of -subunit with adenylate cyclase

GTP
GDP

Binding site
for -subunit

Active site
(closed)

-subunit
Adenylate cyclase

Binding

cAMP acts as hormone that

activates Ca2+ ion channels

Induced
fit

Signal transduction via axons

ATP

cyclic AMP

Active site
(open)

Sound Like ALOT to Remember?

Summary
1.

Odorant (ligand) binds receptor, which then binds G-protein

2.

GDP leaves and GTP binds, resulting in destabilizing complex

3.

-Subunit binds adenylate cyclase where ATP is converted to cAMP

4.

cAMP activates Ca2+ ion channels resulting in signal transduction

GDP

ATP

GTP

cyclic AMP

Receptor
cells

Olfactory
bulb

Hypothalamus
emotion and memory

Olfactory
cortex

Fragrance Perception
Humans use 350 - 400 dierent types of olfactory receptors
- variations among individuals
Statistically, each individual may detect odor with dierent combination of receptors
Odor - Emotion, each individual response may depend on previous experiences

Market Research - understanding your customers

Sensory Analysis - using humans as measuring tool

Can you discriminate between odors?

Can you recognize odors (vocabulary)?

Sensory Analysis
Odor Threshold
O
O

Floral-musk, 200 ppb (in water)

O
O
O
O
O

Classical musky odor, 0.7 ng/L (in air)

Powerful musk odor, 0.00063 ppb (in air)

1 ppb (part per billion) = 1 microgram/L = 0.000001 g/L = 0.0000001 %

1,000,000 microgram = 1 gram
1 ng = 0.000000001 g

Sensory Analysis
Odor Threshold
O

OH
O
(-) ambrox

mp = 75 C
vp ~ 0.01 mm Hg @ 25 C
ot ~ 1 ppb

O
maltol

mp = 162 C
vp = 0.0005 mm Hg @ 25 C
ot ~ 35,000 ppb

Sensory Analysis
Odor Profiling
Animal: Refers to the warm, sensual and heady base notes once associated with the natural odor of musk, ambergris, civet, and
castoreum, now produced by some vegetable materials and aroma chemicals.
Amber: Rich, spicy, warm, sweet and sensual. Smooth, rich and intoxicating, amber is one of the hardest fragrances to describe.
Balsamic: Pungent, fresh. A heavy scent that calls to mind sticky sap. (balsamic vinegar, mint, pine)
Green: Penetrating and spontaneous, this derives above all from leaves, stalks or freshly cut grass.
Lively and bubbly, it can be traced back to certain flowers such as Violet, or fruits, such as Watermelon.
Herbaceous: Aromatic and sharp, deriving from the plant kingdom, these are closely linked to the
green notes, whilst at the same time taking on more complex characteristics. They are particularly
aromatic and in general have a scent similar to that of the earth, therefore grass and roots.

Sensory Analysis
Odor Profiling
Marine/Ozone: Lively and eervescent, fresh and agreeable, these notes remind us of water, the sea and the ozone.

Musky: Intense and persistent, typically masculine. In most cases, the smell reminds us of wood, resin and earth.

Spicy: Lively or pungent notes such as clove oil, cinnamon; characteristic of notes of carnation, ginger, lavender or the
chemical spicy notes of eugenol or isoeugenol.

Woody: An odor which is linked to the aroma of freshly cut, dry wood or fibrous root such as sandalwood or vetiver.

Sensory Analysis
Odor Profiling
Pane llist: ________________________________________

Sa mple
ID

Flo r al

Fru ity

Citr us

Herba l

Gr ee n

Date : _______________________

Mint

Mar ine

Sweet

Spicy

Woo dy

Fr es h

Sensory Analysis
Odor Profiling

20
15
10
5
0
Floral

Fruity

Citrus

Herbal

Mint

Sweet

Woody

Fresh

Sensory Analysis
Odor Profiling

HO

raspberry ketone

hedione

CO2Me

Pharaone

Sensory Analysis
Odor Profiling
Top note (15-25%)
Middle note (30-40%)
Base/bottom note (45-55%)

Sensory Analysis
Odor Profiling - Multidimensional scaling map

Sensory Analysis
Odor Profiling