OR10G4

Olfactory receptor 10G4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the OR10G4 gene.

Olfactory receptors interact with odorant molecules in the nose, to initiate a neuronal response that triggers the perception of a smell. The olfactory receptor proteins are members of a large family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) arising from single coding-exon genes. Olfactory receptors share a 7-transmembrane domain structure with many neurotransmitter and hormone receptors and are responsible for the recognition and G protein-mediated transduction of odorant signals. The olfactory receptor gene family is the largest in the genome. The nomenclature assigned to the olfactory receptor genes and proteins for this organism is independent of other organisms.

Genetic differences
Nonsynonymous substitutions in the OR10G4 gene have a significant effect on the perception of the "smoky" odorant guaiacol. Individuals with mutations that reduce the affinity of the OR10G4 receptor for guaiacol have a reduced sensitivity to it, and the same people who report guaiacol as weaker tend to rate it as more pleasant.