Communication with the environment and other animals through chemical cues
is an essential process for the survival of many multicellular organisms. S
pecialized signal transduction pathways are employed in chemodetection and
the transformation of information into the electrical signals that elicit b
ehaviors. In organisms as diverse as mice and nematodes, similar molecules
are involved in the odorant signaling pathways. Studying the mechanisms of
signal transduction in these two systems using biochemical, molecular and g
enetic approaches has elucidated pathways for odor perception and the roles
of specific proteins and second messenger molecules in the signaling casca
des.