We are interested in the cellular and molecular principles underlying coding and processing of the olfactory information.
Patch clamp,
Optical imaging, In situ hybridization, Immunohistochemistry, Neurotracing, Genechip (cDNA microarray), and
Gene targeting.
The mammalian olfactory system has the amazing capability of detecting and discriminating myriad odors, which relies on the large number (~1000 in rodents) of odorant receptors expressed in the sensory neurons located in the olfactory epithelium. Each sensory neuron expresses only one type odorant receptor, and all neurons with the same receptor typically converge onto two glomeruli in the olfactory bulb, the first relay center in the brain for processing odor information. By combining patch clamp, optical imaging, molecular and genetic approaches, we are investigating how the olfactory sensory neurons with defined odorant receptors encode different odors in the environment and how olfactory experiences modify the sensitivity and organization of the system. We recently discovered that the olfactory sensory neurons serve dual functions as odor detectors and mechanical sensors. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the mechanosensitivity of these neurons and the integration of the odor and airflow information by the olfactory system.
Ma M and Shepherd GM (2000) Functional mosaic organization of mouse olfactory receptor neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA, 97, 12869-12874. Online PDF File
Ma M, Grosmaitre X, Iwema C, Baker H, Greer CA and Shepherd GM (2003) Olfactory signal transduction in the mouse septal organ. J Neurosci, 23: 317-324. Online PDF File
Tian H, Ma M (2004) Molecular organization of the olfactory septal organ. J Neurosci, 24: 8383-8390. Online PDF File
Zhang X, Rogers M, Tian H, Zhang X, Zou D, Liu J, Ma M, Shepherd GM and Firestein SJ (2004) High-throughput microarray detection of odorant receptor gene expression in the mouse. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA , 101, 14168-14173. Online PDF File
Grosmaitre, X., Vassalli, A., Mombaerts, P., Shepherd G., Ma, M. (2006). Odorant responses of olfactory sensory neurons expressing the odorant receptor MOR23: a patch clamp analysis in gene-targeted mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A , 103, 1970-1975. Online PDF File
Grosmaitre X, Santarelli LC, Tan J, Luo M, Ma M (2007) Dual functions of mammalian olfactory sensory neurons as odor detectors and mechanical sensors. Nature Neurosci , 10: 348-354. Online PDF File
