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SUMMARY:Do frogs smell under water? The role of Na+-Ca2+ exchanger in amph
 ibia olfactory receptor neurons - Salome Antolin\, Department of Physiolog
 y\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20060223T130000Z
DTEND:20060223T140000Z
UID:TALK4751@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Cordula Becker
DESCRIPTION:Odors are primarily detected in the cilia of olfactory neurons
 . The process begins with the activation of an odorant receptor in the cil
 iary membrane\, followed by synthesis of cAMP through activation of adenyl
 yl cyclase. Ca2+ ions enter the cell through CNG channels causing depolari
 zation of the membrane potential. The resulting Ca2+ concentration rise in
 itiates an outward Ca2+-activated Cl- current  which greatly amplifies the
  excitatory response. The response  termination involves multiple feedback
  processes on the olfactory cascade but it is believed to be mainly domina
 ted by a Na+-Ca2+ exchanger which extrudes the intracilliary Ca2+.  Recent
 ly we found that the amphibian Na+-Ca2+ exchanger is able to functionally 
 deal with large variations in external Na+\, unlike the photoreceptor and 
 cardiac exchangers in the same species. This mechanism might imply that fr
 og olfactory neurons can be prepared to operate efficiently both under or 
 outside water\, processing both airborne and waterborne odorants.\n
LOCATION:Seminar Room (ground floor)\, Craik-Marshall Building
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