Molecular characterisation of a putative Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) odorant receptor

The olfactory system of fish is extremely important as it is able to recogn ise and distinguish a vast array of odorous molecules that are involved in behaviours paramount to survival. This is achieved by the activation of a d iverse multigene family of G-protein coupled receptors through odorous liga nd binding. Using molecular techniques, the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA coding for an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) odorant receptor (ASOR1) has b een determined. The full-length cDNA (1260 nt) encodes a protein of 320 ami no acid residues, including one potential N-linked glycosylation site, with in the short extracellular amino terminal of the receptor. Hydrophobicity a nalysis revealed seven hydrophobic regions within the amino acid sequence, corresponding to possible positions of the transmembrane domains characteri stic of the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily. Several conserved motif s unique to odorant receptors were also present. Through characterisation o f this receptor, we hope to increase the understanding of the mechanisms un derlying olfaction in salmonid species. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.