Compositions and methods for characterizing and regulating olfactory sensation

Abstract

The present invention relates to the characterization of odorant receptors. In particular, the present invention relates to the OR7D4 proteins and nucleic acids encoding OR7D4 proteins and cell systems for screening for modulators of OR7D4 receptors. The present invention further provides assays for the detection of OR7D4 polymorphisms and mutations associated with altered olfactory sensation states, as well as methods of screening for therapeutic agents, ligands, and modulators of OR7D4 receptors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for screening compounds for the ability to alter OR7D4 activity, comprising:
 a) providing:
 i) a polypeptide sequence comprising at least a portion of OR7D4; 
 ii) one or more test compounds; 
   b) combining in any order, said polypeptide sequence comprising at least a portion of OR7D4, and said one or more test compounds under conditions such that said polypeptide sequence, and said test compound interact; and   c) measuring OR7D4 activity.