Genetic variation in a human odorant receptor alters odour perception

Andreas Keller, Hanyi Zhuang, Qiuyi Chi, Leslie B. Vosshall () and Hiroaki Matsunami ()
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Andreas Keller: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behaviour, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
Hanyi Zhuang: and
Qiuyi Chi: and
Leslie B. Vosshall: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behaviour, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
Hiroaki Matsunami: and

Nature, 2007, vol. 449, issue 7161, 468-472

Abstract: The scent of androstenone In humans, there is considerable variation between individuals in both their sensitivity to certain smells and their subjective experience of them. A new study is the first to show that genetic variation in a single human odorant receptor correlates with perceptual variation. OR7D4, an odorant receptor, is selectively activated in vitro by androstenone, a testosterone metabolite thought by some to be a candidate human pheromone. Variations in the gene encoding OR7D4 affected how the subjects thought the androstenone smelt — some found it pleasant, others offensive, to others it was odourless — and also how intense that smell was.

Date: 2007
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DOI: 10.1038/nature06162

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