The DOI matches its Crossref record; 44 of the 44 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Molecular vibration-sensing component in Drosophila melanogaster olfaction
Open accessAbstract
A common explanation of molecular recognition by the olfactory system posits that receptors recognize the structure or shape of the odorant molecule. We performed a rigorous test of shape recognition by replacing hydrogen with deuterium in odorants and asking whether Drosophila melanogaster can distinguish these identically shaped isotopes. We report that flies not only differentiate between isotopic odorants, but can be conditioned to selectively avoid the common or the deuterated isotope. Furthermore, flies trained to discriminate against the normal or deuterated isotopes of a compound, selectively avoid the corresponding isotope of a different odorant. Finally, flies trained to avoid a deuterated compound exhibit selective aversion to an unrelated molecule with a vibrational mode in the energy range of the carbon–deuterium stretch. These findings are inconsistent with a shape-only model for smell, and instead support the existence of a molecular vibration-sensing component to olfactory reception.
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In the citing paper
“In contrast to this, theoretical work comparing the structure-activity/vibration-activity relationship of the histamine receptor and its various ligands suggests that molecular vibration does play some role in ligand function.”
From Quantum effects in the brain: A review (2020) · cites this paper as [119]
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, molecules with similar vibrational frequencies have been observed to elicit similar reactions from fruit flies in spite of being unrelated chemically [111].”
From The future of quantum biology (2018) · cites this paper as [111]
In the citing paper
“For example, the substitution with deuterium of hydrogen results in an odour change despite the fact that the two molecules have the same shape (figure 4) [111].”
From The future of quantum biology (2018) · cites this paper as [111]
In the citing paper
“In support of the theory, experiments with fruit flies have indicated that shape and size of odourants are insufficient for detection.”
From The future of quantum biology (2018) · cites this paper as [111]
In the citing paper
“This suggests that vibrational frequency might play a role in the detection of odourants[111].”
From The future of quantum biology (2018) · cites this paper as [111]
In the citing paper
“experiments with fruit flies have indicated that the substitution of hydrogen with deuterium results in an odour change in spite of their having the same shape.”
From The future of quantum biology (2018) · cites this paper as [111]
In the citing paper
“In recent years, quantum biology too has been benefitting considerably from the refinement of experimental tools that are beginning to provide direct access to the observation of quantum dynamics in biological systems [11-14]”
From Vibrations, quanta and biology (2013) · cites this paper as [14]
In the citing paper
“More importantly, this principle is sufficiently general to provide a mechanism that can support the surprisingly long-lasting oscillatory features observed in recent ultra-fast laser spectroscopy experiments [11-14] and explain key aspects of the dynamics that may underlie the process olfaction.”
From Vibrations, quanta and biology (2013) · cites this paper as [14]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Franco, M. I., Turin, L., Mershin, A., & Skoulakis, E. M. C.
- Affiliations
- Alexander Fleming Biomedical Sciences Research Center (GR)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
- Corresponding author
- Skoulakis, Efthimios M. C.
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2011-02-14
- Volume
- 108
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 3797-3802
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC3048096
- OpenAlex
- W2049498218
- Cited by
- 183
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 7.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Keywords
- olfaction, Drosophila melanogaster, odorant recognition, deuteration, vibrational modes
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Conditioning, Classical, Cues, Deuterium, Discrimination, Psychological, Drosophila melanogaster, Sensation, Smell, Vibration
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