Chemosensory behavior: the path from stimulus to response

Abstract

In the past year, candidates have been identified for two long-sought classes of molecules, insect odorant receptors and mammalian taste receptors. In addition, genes directing receptor gene expression and the development of specific chemosensory neurons have been described in Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. Finally, recent physiological experiments have provided new insights into the mechanisms by which chemosensory information is processed.