Odorant-binding protein (OBP)

Odorant-binding protein (OBP) refers to a class of small (10–30 kDa), water-soluble proteins secreted by auxiliary cells in olfactory tissues of both vertebrates and insects[1][3][4][7][9]. In insects, OBPs are highly diverse, encoded by large gene families (e.g., 52 genes in Drosophila) and characterized by six α-helices stabilized by three disulfide bonds, while vertebrate OBPs are structurally related to the lipocalin family and exhibit a β-barrel fold[1][4][5][7]. OBPs function primarily as transporters of hydrophobic volatile compounds, solubilizing them in the aqueous extracellular environment and delivering them to odorant receptors embedded in sensory neuron membranes[1][3][5][9]. They are also proposed to protect odorant molecules from enzymatic degradation, mediate their deactivation, and, in some cases, contribute to adaptation to xenobiotics such as plant-derived chemicals or pesticides[3][9]. OBPs are not considered classical therapeutic targets (e.g., enzymes, receptors, transporters), although they are targets of research in pest control and olfactory biology due to their role in chemical communication, particularly in insects[9]. Misregulation or mutations in OBP genes are not directly linked to human disease but may alter chemical communication, host-finding, and pesticide susceptibility in insects[9].

Other names

pheromone binding protein (PBP)general odorant-binding protein (GOBP)OBP