Talk:Olfactory receptor

Insects ORs and vertebrate ORs are independent Families
See title. As demonstrated by Benton et al 2006 (Atypical Membrane Topology and Heteromeric Function of Drosophila Odorant Receptors In Vivo), and restated in a large number of review articles on the molecular biology insect olfaction insect ORs arose independently from vertebrate IRs (see also recent publications by Benton and other labs on evolution of olfaction in insects/arthropods). Accordingly, some statements in the text that are correct for vertebrate ORs should not be readily connected to insect ORs. I'd suggest as the easiest correction to remove mention of insects as it currently is in the article (in "Expression"), and adding a sentence at the start to point out the distinction. Since I am a) working (and have published) in the field and b) unfamiliar with editing Wikipedia I will limit myself to suggesting these changes, and not actually change anything. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 141.5.20.126 (talk) 09:09, 5 May 2015 (UTC)

Ligand/odorants?

 * Rather than binding to specific ligands like most receptors, olfactory receptors bind to structures on odor molecules.

I think this is a confusing statement... Perhaps it would be better to define odorants as molecules that bind to olfactory receptors (as ligands do) eliciting a response? In that case, they would be agonists of ORs, too... -- dockingman Talk 03:47, 31 October 2006 (UTC)
 * I concur (at least that's we say in the field anyway). Changed 20070620. Cowbert 21:47, 20 June 2007 (UTC)