About this Research Topic
To perceive environmental chemical compounds and to convert these external signals into an intracellular message might be the oldest way for a living being to get information from the out-side world.
Chemoreceptors are proteins or protein complexes that detect volatile molecules (olfaction) or molecules in solution (gustation). Chemoreceptors can operate as ionotropic or as metabotropic receptors. Ionotropic receptors form ion channels that are activated via ligand binding. Activation of a metabotropic receptor initiates an intracellular signaling cascade that could include a change of enzymatic activity, production of second messenger or activation of ion channels. The receptor performance has to be fine-tuned according to the actual physio-logical requirements and the presentation of the chemical signal
This Research Topic will collect reports and reviews on the structure and function of chemoreceptors in the animal kingdom, and how these receptors are regulated.
Chemoreceptors are proteins or protein complexes that detect volatile molecules (olfaction) or molecules in solution (gustation). Chemoreceptors can operate as ionotropic or as metabotropic receptors. Ionotropic receptors form ion channels that are activated via ligand binding. Activation of a metabotropic receptor initiates an intracellular signaling cascade that could include a change of enzymatic activity, production of second messenger or activation of ion channels. The receptor performance has to be fine-tuned according to the actual physio-logical requirements and the presentation of the chemical signal
This Research Topic will collect reports and reviews on the structure and function of chemoreceptors in the animal kingdom, and how these receptors are regulated.
Keywords: chemoreception, receptors, channels, signal transduction, modulation
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