Small subfamily of olfactory receptor genes: structural features, expression pattern and genomic organization

Olfactory receptors of the OR37 subfamily are characterized by distinct seq uence features and are expressed in neurons segregated in a restricted area of the olfactory epithelium. In the present study, we have characterized t he complement of OR37-like genes in the mouse. Five OR37-like genes were id entified. They reside within only 60 kb of DNA on chromosome 4. About 70 kb distant from this cluster, two additional olfactory receptor genes are loc ated, which are members of distinct receptor subfamilies. Phylogenetic anal ysis demonstrated that the two physically linked receptors are closely rela ted to the OR37 subfamily. Studies of gene expression showed that both gene s are also expressed in clustered neuron populations located in the typical OR37 region of the epithelium. These data suggest the involvement of locus -dependent mechanisms for the spatial control of OR gene expression. (C) 19 99 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.