Advances in the Production of Olfactory Receptors for Industrial Use

In biological olfactory systems, olfactory receptors (ORs) can recognize and discriminate between thousands of volatile organic compounds with very high sensitivity and specificity. The superior properties of ORs have led to the development of OR‐based biosensors that have shown promising potential in many applications over the past two decades. In particular, newly designed technologies in gene synthesis, protein expression, solubilization, purification, and membrane mimetics for membrane proteins have greatly opened up the previously inaccessible industrial potential of ORs. In this review, gene design, expression and solubilization strategies, and purification and reconstitution methods available for modern industrial applications are examined, with a focus on ORs. The limitations of current OR production technology are also estimated, and future directions for further progress are suggested. Olfactory receptors have superior properties due to their high sensitivity and specificity to odorants, which enables the development of bioelectronic noses for many industrial applications. In this review, the recent advances in the production of olfactory receptors are summarized at each major step. The limitations of the current production technology are discussed, along with future directions for further advancement.