EFFICIENT METHODS FOR ISOLATING FUNCTIONAL G-PROTEIN COUPLED RECEPTORS AND IDENTIFYING ACTIVE EFFECTORS AND EFFICIENT METHODS TO ISOLATE PROTEINS INVOLVED IN OLFACTION AND EFFICIENT METHODS TO ISOLATE AND IDENTIFYING ACTIVE EFFECTORS

摘要

This invention provides methods and compositions for identifying proteins involved in the olfactory pathway, for example G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and proteins or chemicals that can interact with these receptors, including but not limited to agonists or antagonists of these receptors. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and other proteins involved in olfaction can also be isolated and characterized. Generally, the method consists of isolating gene products specifically expressed in the tissue of interest, and assaying function. This invention also provides methods of use of the identified agonists and antagonists for controlling insect feeding and breeding behavior, eliminating odors, detecting the presence of small molecules in the air, and the like.