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Signalling mechanisms in mouse bitter responsive taste cells.
Masataka Narukawa1, Eiko Minamisawa, Yukako Hayashi
1Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Neuroreport
|June 30, 2009
Summary
Mouse bitter taste perception relies on intracellular calcium (Ca2+) release. This study found that alpha-gustducin and IP3R3 are key components in this bitter transduction pathway.
Area of Science:
- * Neuroscience
- * Cell Biology
- * Sensory Biology
Background:
- * Understanding the molecular mechanisms of taste perception is crucial for sensory biology.
- * Intracellular signaling pathways, particularly involving calcium ions (Ca2+), play a significant role in taste transduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To elucidate the components involved in intracellular bitter taste transduction in mice.
- * To investigate the expression patterns of key transduction elements.
- * To determine the contribution of intracellular Ca2+ stores to bitter perception.
Main Methods:
- * Examined the expression of transduction components in taste receptor cells.
- * Utilized immunohistochemistry to identify cells expressing alpha-gustducin and IP3R3.
- * Assessed the impact of intracellular Ca2+ depletion using the inhibitor thapsigargin.
Main Results:
- * 63% of bitter-responsive cells expressed the taste tissue-specific G-protein alpha-gustducin.
- * 78% of alpha-gustducin-positive cells also expressed IP3R3, a receptor for intracellular Ca2+ release.
- * Depleting intracellular Ca2+ stores with thapsigargin abolished bitter responses in 83% of taste cells.
Conclusions:
- * Intracellular Ca2+ release from intracellular stores is a critical step in mouse bitter taste transduction.
- * The G-protein alpha-gustducin and the IP3R3 receptor are integral to this process.
