Distribution of calmodulin in taste buds

Calmodulin is higher in particulate fractions from bovine taste buds containing taste bud membranes which specifically bind sweet tastants compared to corresponding fractions from control non-taste bud bearing lingual epithelial tissue. As biochemical purity (i.e., membrane enzyme marker activity) of these membrane enriched fractions increased (P4B greater than P3B greater than P2B) calmodulin correspondingly increased (P4B greater than P3B greater than P2B); these increases also correlated with increased membrane purity as demonstrated by electron microscopy. All PB subfractions from taste buds contained a greater membrane concentration than those from PD subfractions and calmodulin was significantly increased in each corresponding subfraction. The presence of calmodulin in taste bud membranes, its correlation with membrane purification and reports that numerous drugs which induce taste loss are potent inhibitors of calmodulin suggest a role for calmodulin in taste function.