Vomeronasal 1 receptor 3 (VN1R3)

Vomeronasal 1 receptor 3 (VN1R3) is a member of the vomeronasal 1 receptor family, a class of G protein-coupled receptors expressed primarily in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of many mammals. These receptors are thought to mediate detection of pheromones, which influence social and reproductive behaviors in animals by activating neurons that signal to brain areas controlling instinctive behavior. In most mammals, VNO neurons expressing V1R receptors bind environmental chemical cues and trigger intracellular signaling pathways involving Gαi2 proteins, leading to behavioral responses. In humans, genes encoding vomeronasal 1 receptors such as VN1R3 are present as sequences but are considered pseudogenes, likely non-functional due to accumulated mutations, and the vomeronasal organ itself is vestigial and does not function as a pheromone-sensing organ. Thus, while VN1R3 is a bona fide receptor gene in the nomenclature, it has no known function or therapeutic targeting in humans.

Other names

VN1R3V1R family receptor 3

Not applicable (no known drugs; for functional receptors in non-human mammals, ligand binding triggers G protein–mediated signal transduction through inositol trisphosphate and Ca²⁺)