| Popis: |
High levels of alkaline phosphatase activity are characteristic of the olfactory epithelium in numerous vertebrate species (Gladisheva, Kukushkina and Martynova, 1980) and have been demonstrated histochemically in the vomeronasal organ of the mouse (Bannister and Cuchieri, 1972; Cuchieri, 1974), golden hamster (Taniguchi, Taniguchi and Mikami, 1986) and buffalo (Saksena and Chandra, 1980). Phosphorylation, transport and receptor functions of this enzyme have been discussed (Poltorac, Chukhray and Veselova, 1991; Chukhray Poltorac and Veselova, 1991). Furthermore, high levels of phosphatase activity have been described for the opioid µ-receptor (Roy, Lee and Loch, 1986). Based on this and characteristics such as a wide range in substrate specificity and a considerable number of activators and inhibitors (alcohols, thiols, metallic ions, etc.,), we suggest that proteins with high levels of alkaline phosphatase activity may bind with different kinds of odorants and may be involved in receptor functions within the olfactory system. |
