Olfactory receptor family 8 subfamily U member 9 (OR8U9)

Olfactory receptor family 8 subfamily U member 9 (OR8U9) is a protein-coding gene encoding an olfactory receptor expressed in the sensory neurons of the olfactory epithelium in the human nose[3][4]. OR8U9 belongs to the largest family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), arising from genes with a single coding exon[3]. These receptors have a seven-transmembrane domain structure, are responsible for recognizing odorant molecules, and mediate the initial step in the perception of smell by activating G proteins and downstream signaling cascades that depolarize olfactory sensory neurons[3][4][5]. While olfactory receptors share core biological functions and structure, each subtype—such as OR8U9—exhibits unique ligand specificity, contributing to the diversity of odor recognition in humans. Currently, OR8U9 is not recognized as a therapeutic drug target, nor is it directly implicated in human diseases, but the olfactory receptor family is broadly important for sensory neuroscience and may be studied for roles in anosmia or other olfactory dysfunctions[3][4].

Other names

OR8U9GC11P001826GC11U900820GC11P055901GC11P056143GC11P052480

G protein-coupled receptor activation by odorant ligands leading to neuronal depolarization and initiation of action potentials that encode olfactory information[3][5].