Biochemical studies in vertebrate olfactory tissue indicate that certain odorants stimulate adenylyl cyclase in a GTP-dependent manner. Additionally, immunochemical and toxin-labeling studies demonstrate the presence of several GTP-binding protein (G-protein) species in vertebrate olfactory epithelium. To identify the G-protein(s) responsible for olfactory signal transduction, we screened a rat olfactory cDNA library with an oligonucleotide probe and isolated 32 recombinant clones encoding five distinct types of G-protein alpha subunits. The majority of the clones encoded G alpha s, while the remaining clones encoded G alpha o, G alpha i1, G alpha i2, and a novel species, G alpha i3. Messenger RNA corresponding to each G alpha was detectable in all tissues examined; however, the levels for a given G alpha varied in a tissue-specific manner. In olfactory tissue, G alpha s was the most abundant of these messages and in combination with the biochemical studies suggests that G alpha s is the G-protein component of the olfactory signal transduction cascade.
Jones et al. (1987) studied this question.