Olfactory responses of Phycomyces blakesleeanus

Robert J. Cohen, Michael G. Fried, M. M. Atkinson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Upon exposure to low levels of various volatile compounds such as n-heptanol, methanol, CHCl3, mercaptoheptane, etc., the sporangiophore of Phycomyces blakesleeanus responds with a transient and reproducible decrease in its elongation rate. All 22 volatile substances tested (except H2O) elicited negative responses. The amplitude of the responses depends on the compound and its concentration. A characteristic concentration, required for 50% inhibition, correlates remarkable well with the human olfactory threshold (coefficient of correlation r = 0.89 (P < 0.001)). Perhaps some process in olfaction is common to this fungus and higher systems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)877-884
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume86
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 14 1979

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Mr. R. Sheline, Mr. D. Hampshire, Mrs. M. L. Garner Davis for technical assistance. Supported by NIH grant GM 19390.

Funding

We thank Mr. R. Sheline, Mr. D. Hampshire, Mrs. M. L. Garner Davis for technical assistance. Supported by NIH grant GM 19390.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)GM 19390

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biophysics
    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology
    • Cell Biology

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