Olfactory receptor 5M3 (OR5M3) (OR5M3)

Olfactory receptor 5M3 (OR5M3) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) belonging to the rhodopsin-like family of olfactory receptors [2, 3]. Its primary biological function is the detection of odorant molecules in the nasal cavity, where it initiates a signal transduction cascade that leads to the perception of smell [2, 4]. OR5M3 is specifically activated by furanones, such as furaneol and homofuraneol, which are key food odorants with a caramel-like scent [4, 22]. In addition to its expression in the olfactory epithelium, OR5M3 is found ectopically in tissues such as the aorta and platelets, and its expression is altered in certain cancers, including pancreatic and thyroid carcinomas [17, 20, 23, 26]. While it is not currently a target for any approved therapeutic drugs, its role in non-olfactory tissues and its presence in tumor cells suggest it may have functions in cell signaling and disease progression, making it a subject of interest for future drug discovery and biomarker research [15, 27, 28]. The receptor's involvement in vascular tissues like the aorta also points toward potential physiological roles in cardiovascular homeostasis that are yet to be fully elucidated [2, 26, 29].

Other names

Olfactory receptor family 5 subfamily M member 3Olfactory receptor OR11-191OR11-191

Agonism