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An artificial nose my someday become a reality.

It has always been a challenge to design an artificial nose because of the complexity of the sense of smell. Now scientists at Tufts University School of Medicine have found single-stranded DNA molecules tagged with a fluorescent reporter and dried onto solid surfaces may hold the key. Results show they can respond to vapor phase odor pulses.

Researchers discovered two general biological ways to detect chemicals in either a water-related or vapor phase. One relies on individual, highly specific sensors - each tuned to detect a single molecular species. Examples include the receptors that mediate pheromone detection in insects or those that function in neurotransmission.

The second approach is represented by the DNA sensors. It uses receptors with relatively broad responses. One example is the sense of smell receptors in the main olfactory system of vertebrates.

This study highlights the potential of using DNA in a new, powerful odor detection system and it shows its potential to play other new roles including as a small molecule receptor.

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SOURCE: PLoS Biology, 2007;6:e9

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