Modulators of odorant receptors

Abstract

The present invention relates to polypeptides capable of promoting odorant receptor cell surface localization and odorant receptor functional expression. The present invention further provides assays for the detection of ligands specific for various odorant receptors. Additionally, the present invention provides methods of screening for odorant receptor accessory protein polymorphisms and mutations associated with disease states, as well as methods of screening for therapeutic agents, ligands, and modulators of such proteins.

1 . An isolated and purified nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 38 and variants thereof that are at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 38. 
     
     
         2 . The nucleic acid sequence of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to a heterologous promoter. 
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid sequence of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid sequence is contained within a vector. 
     
     
         4 . The nucleic acid sequence of  claim 3 , wherein said vector is expressed in a host cell. 
     
     
         5 . A composition comprising the nucleic acid sequence of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . An isolated and purified nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes under conditions of high stringency to a nucleic acid sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 18, and variants thereof that are at least 90% identical to a nucleic acid sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 18. 
     
     
         7 . The nucleic acid sequence of  claim 6 , wherein said sequence is operably linked to a heterologous promoter. 
     
     
         8 . The nucleic acid sequence of  claim 6 , wherein said sequence is contained within a vector. 
     
     
         9 . The nucleic acid sequence of  claim 8 , wherein said vector is expressed in a host cell. 
     
     
         10 . A composition comprising the nucleic acid sequence of  claim 6 .