OR6A2

Olfactory receptor 6A2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the OR6A2 gene. It is Class II (tetrapod-specific) olfactory receptor and a rhodopsin-like receptor.

Olfactory receptors interact with odorant molecules in the nose, to initiate a neuronal response that triggers the perception of a smell. The olfactory receptor proteins are members of a large family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) arising from single coding-exon genes. Olfactory receptors share a 7-transmembrane domain structure with many neurotransmitters and hormone receptors and are responsible for the recognition and G protein-mediated transduction of odorant signals.

Variation in the OR6A2 gene has been identified as a likely cause of why some people enjoy the smell and taste of coriander (also known as cilantro) while others are extremely repulsed by it. Depending on ancestry, between 3% and 21% of the American population report disliking coriander: 21% for East Asians, 17% for Europeans, 14% for those of African descent, 7% for South Asians, 4% for Hispanics (of any race, including Caucasian and African descendants), and 3% for Middle Eastern subjects. However, these figures don't represent the prevalence of the OR6A2 gene. Some associate it with an intensely unpleasant taste, including a combination of soap and vomit, or say that it is similar to the foul smelling odor emitted by stinkbugs. This is suggested to be due to the presence of aldehyde chemicals, which may be present in soap, various detergents, coriander, and several species of stinkbugs.^{[citation needed]}

This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.