Class B scavenger receptors, scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), are broadly expressed cell-surface proteins and are believed to serve as multifaceted players in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in mammals. Because of its ability to recognise distinct odour-active volatile compounds and its presence in murine olfactory epithelium, CD36 has recently emerged as a participant in the detection of odorants within the nasal cavity. However, there have been no attempts to assess whether SR-B1 has such a role. In this study, we performed a cell-free in-vitro assay utilising a peptide mimic of the receptor, and demonstrated that SR-B1 could recognise aliphatic aldehydes (e.g., tetradecanal), a distinct class of volatile odorants, as potential ligands. By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western immunoblot analyses, we detected the expression of SR-B1 mRNA and protein, respectively, in mouse olfactory tissue. Finally, we immunohistochemically mapped the distribution of SR-B1 in the surface layer of olfactory epithelium in vivo, which is the first line of odorant detection. These findings uncover a novel role for SR-B1 as a contributor to the capture of specific odorants in the nasal cavity of mammals.

中文翻译：

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清道夫受体B1作为在鼻腔中捕获特定挥发性增味剂的贡献者的新作用。

B类清道夫受体，清道夫受体B1（SR-B1）和分化簇36（CD36）是广泛表达的细胞表面蛋白，被认为在哺乳动物脂质和脂蛋白代谢中起多方面的作用。由于CD36具有识别异味活性挥发性化合物的能力以及它在鼠嗅觉上皮细胞中的存在，最近已出现CD36作为检测鼻腔内气味物质的参与者。但是，没有尝试评估SR-B1是否具有这种作用。在这项研究中，我们利用受体的肽模拟物进行了无细胞体外测定，并证明SR-B1可以识别脂族醛（例如，四癸醛）（一种独特的挥发性加味剂）作为潜在的配体。通过逆转录-聚合酶链反应和免疫印迹分析，我们分别检测了小鼠嗅觉组织中SR-B1 mRNA和蛋白的表达。最后，我们通过免疫组织化学方法绘制了SR-B1在体内嗅上皮表层的分布，这是嗅觉检测的第一线。这些发现揭示了SR-B1作为捕获哺乳动物鼻腔中特定气味的贡献者的新作用。