Olfactory receptors, vomeronasal receptors, and the organization of olfactory information

The mammalian olfactory system employs as much as 1,000 G protein-coupled receptors for the identification of odorants. Previous studies, however, have failed to devote adequate attention to the vomeronasal organ in the nasal septum, an olfactory organ with an independent group of receptor proteins. A third distinct class of mammalian olfactory receptors have been cloned. Results show the basic components for expressing olfactory pathways.