Cracking the Olfactory Code (Project 1)

The work to be performed by Dr. Bozza at Northwestern University consists of: 1. A series of experiments (outlined in Project 1, Specific Aim 3) to identify all high affinity odorant receptors for a set of 300 model odorants. This will be done via exposing mice to odorants under controlled conditions, and performing gene expression analysis via RNA sequencing on olfactory mucosa samples. The scope of the project, the number of samples to be handled and the amount of next generation sequencing will require a full 5 years of intensive effort. Deliverables for the project will be the identity of the discovered high-affinity receptors, the identity of the active odorants, and a large body of RNA sequencing data. The data are also critical for several other projects within the larger proposal. 2. A series of experiments (outlined in Project 4, Specific Aim 2) to examine effects of re-mapping olfactory glomeruli on perceived odor intensity in mice. The lab will develop head-fixed behavioral assays to measure and match odor intensity in mice. This platform will be used to examine how genetically modifying the olfactory glomerular map (via receptor overexpression) affects perceived odor intensity. Work will proceed from Years 1-4. Experiments will be initiated with existing mouse strains, but may invovle generation of additional transgenic mice. Deliverables will be data files and analyzed data sets that show the effects on intensity, as well as potential new mouse models.