Pheromone Gene Found

Aug. 28 -- Scientists have identified the first human gene that may be linked to pheromones, odorless molecules that in other animals trigger primal urges, including sex, defense and kinship.

Experts describe the discovery as possibly opening a new doorinto the role of pheromones in human development.

In animals, researchers have documented how pheromones tracecomplex neurological paths to stimulate parts of the brain that aredeeply rooted in instinct.

Researchers have long believed that humans also communicatethrough pheromones, but until now they had been unable to find anyof the equipment needed to detect these potent molecules.

Nose Holds Detector

Now, in experiments at Rockefeller University and Yale,neurogeneticists have isolated a human gene, labeled V1RL1, thatthey believe encodes for a pheromone receptor in the mucous liningof the nose. A receptor is a patch on the surface of a cell thatbinds with specific molecules, like a lock that accepts only aspecific key.

“This is the first convincing identification of a humanpheromone receptor,” said University of Colorado biochemist JosephFalke.

Humans share the V1RL1 gene with rodents and other mammals thatrely heavily on pheromone cues to survive.

However, it has not been determined whether the gene is activein humans or which pheromone-induced behavior the gene mightinduce.

“The ultimate test will be to find a pheromone that binds tothe receptor and triggers a measurable physiological response,”Falke said.

The research was published in the September issue of the journalNature Genetics.

Researchers took samples from a gene bank and scanned them formatches to the rodent genes from the V1r family. They found eightmatches in human genetic material.

Further testing showed that seven of the eight human V1r genesare inoperative. The potentially functional gene, called V1RL1,subsequently was found in 11 out of 11 randomly chosen people fromvarying ethnic backgrounds, researchers said.