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Bhatia V, Esmati L, Bhullar RP. Regulation of Ras p21 and RalA GTPases activity by quinine in mammary epithelial cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2024; 479:567-577. [PMID: 37131040 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04725-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Quinine, a bitter compound, can act as an agonist to activate the family of bitter taste G protein-coupled receptor family of proteins. Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated that quinine causes activation of RalA, a Ras p21-related small G protein. Ral proteins can be activated directly or indirectly through an alternative pathway that requires Ras p21 activation resulting in the recruitment of RalGDS, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Ral. Using normal mammary epithelial (MCF-10A) and non-invasive mammary epithelial (MCF-7) cell lines, we investigated the effect of quinine in regulating Ras p21 and RalA activity. Results showed that in the presence of quinine, Ras p21 is activated in both MCF-10A and MCF-7 cells; however, RalA was inhibited in MCF-10A cells, and no effect was observed in the case of MCF-7 cells. MAP kinase, a downstream effector for Ras p21, was activated in both MCF-10A and MCF-7 cells. Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of RalGDS in MCF-10A cells and MCF-7 cells. The expression of RalGDS was higher in MCF-10A cells in comparison to the MCF-7 cells. Although RalGDS was detected in MCF-10A and MCF-7 cells, it did not result in RalA activation upon Ras p21 activation with quinine suggesting that the Ras p21-RalGDS-RalA pathway is not active in the MCF-10A cells. The inhibition of RalA activity in MCF-10A cells due to quinine could be as a result of a direct effect of this bitter compound on RalA. Protein modeling and ligand docking analysis demonstrated that quinine can interact with RalA through the R79 amino acid, which is located in the switch II region loop of the RalA protein. It is possible that quinine causes a conformational change that results in the inhibition of RalA activation even though RalGDS is present in the cell. More studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism(s) that regulate Ral activity in mammary epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Bhatia
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group and Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB, R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Laya Esmati
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group and Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Rajinder P Bhullar
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group and Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada.
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de Jesus VC, Mittermuller BA, Hu P, Schroth RJ, Chelikani P. Association between Downstream Taste Signaling Genes, Oral Microbiome, and Severe Early Childhood Caries. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010081. [PMID: 36613519 PMCID: PMC9820665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymorphisms in taste receptor genes have been shown to play a role in early childhood caries (ECC), a multifactorial, biofilm-mediated disease. This study aimed to evaluate associations between severe-ECC (S-ECC), the oral microbiome, and variants in genes that encode components of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling cascade involved in taste sensation. A total of 176 children (88 caries-free; 88 with S-ECC) were recruited. Analyses of 16S and ITS1 rRNA microbial genes and seven (GNAQ, GNAS, GNAT3, GNAI2, RAC1, RALB, and PLCB2) human genes were pursued using next-generation sequencing. Regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between genetic variants, S-ECC, and the supragingival plaque microbiome. Results suggest that PLCB2 rs2305645 (T), rs1869901 (G), and rs2305649 (G) alleles had a protective effect on S-ECC (rs2305645, odds ratio (OR) = 0.27 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14-0.51); rs1869901, OR = 0.34 (95% CI: 0.20-0.58); and rs2305649, OR = 0.43 (95% CI: 0.26-0.71)). Variants in GNAQ, GNAS, GNAT3, PLCB2, RALB, and RAC1 were associated with oral fungal and bacterial community composition. This study revealed that three loci at PLCB2 are significantly associated with S-ECC. Variants in multiple genes were associated with the composition of dental biofilm. These findings contribute to the current knowledge about the role of genetics in S-ECC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivianne Cruz de Jesus
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Betty-Anne Mittermuller
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Pingzhao Hu
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3N4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Robert J. Schroth
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1S1, Canada
| | - Prashen Chelikani
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3N4, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Medapati MR, Bhagirath AY, Singh N, Schroth RJ, Bhullar RP, Duan K, Chelikani P. Bitter Taste Receptor T2R14 Modulates Gram-Positive Bacterial Internalization and Survival in Gingival Epithelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189920. [PMID: 34576085 PMCID: PMC8469602 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bitter-taste receptors (T2Rs) have emerged as key players in host–pathogen interactions and important modulators of oral innate immunity. Previously, we reported that T2R14 is expressed in gingival epithelial cells (GECs) and interacts with competence stimulating peptides (CSPs) secreted by the cariogenic Streptococcus mutans. The underlying mechanisms of the innate immune responses and physiological effects of T2R14 on Gram-positive bacteria are not well characterized. In this study, we examined the role of T2R14 in internalization and growth inhibitory effects on Gram-positive bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus and S. mutans. We utilized CRISPR-Cas9 T2R14 knockdown (KD) GECs as the study model to address these key physiological mechanisms. Our data reveal that the internalization of S. aureus is significantly decreased, while the internalization of S. mutans remains unaffected upon knockdown of T2R14 in GECs. Surprisingly, GECs primed with S. mutans CSP-1 resulted in an inhibition of growth for S. aureus, but not for S. mutans. The GECs infected with S. aureus induced T2R14-dependent human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2) secretion; however, S. mutans–infected GECs did not induce hBD-2 secretion, but induced T2R14 dependent IL-8 secretion. Interestingly, our results show that T2R14 KD affects the cytoskeletal reorganization in GECs, thereby inhibiting S. aureus internalization. Our study highlights the distinct mechanisms and a direct role of T2R14 in influencing physiological responses to Gram-positive bacteria in the oral cavity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Reddy Medapati
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (A.Y.B.); (N.S.); (R.J.S.); (R.P.B.); (K.D.)
| | - Anjali Yadav Bhagirath
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (A.Y.B.); (N.S.); (R.J.S.); (R.P.B.); (K.D.)
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Nisha Singh
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (A.Y.B.); (N.S.); (R.J.S.); (R.P.B.); (K.D.)
| | - Robert J. Schroth
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (A.Y.B.); (N.S.); (R.J.S.); (R.P.B.); (K.D.)
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
- Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Rajinder P. Bhullar
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (A.Y.B.); (N.S.); (R.J.S.); (R.P.B.); (K.D.)
| | - Kangmin Duan
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (A.Y.B.); (N.S.); (R.J.S.); (R.P.B.); (K.D.)
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Prashen Chelikani
- Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, Department of Oral Biology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (A.Y.B.); (N.S.); (R.J.S.); (R.P.B.); (K.D.)
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-204-789-3539; Fax: +1-204-789-3913
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Governini L, Semplici B, Pavone V, Crifasi L, Marrocco C, De Leo V, Arlt E, Gudermann T, Boekhoff I, Luddi A, Piomboni P. Expression of Taste Receptor 2 Subtypes in Human Testis and Sperm. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E264. [PMID: 31963712 PMCID: PMC7019805 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9010264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Taste receptors (TASRs) are expressed not only in the oral cavity but also throughout the body, thus suggesting that they may play different roles in organ systems beyond the tongue. Recent studies showed the expression of several TASRs in mammalian testis and sperm, indicating an involvement of these receptors in male gametogenesis and fertility. This notion is supported by an impaired reproductive phenotype of mouse carrying targeted deletion of taste receptor genes, as well as by a significant correlation between human semen parameters and specific polymorphisms of taste receptor genes. To better understand the biological and thus clinical significance of these receptors for human reproduction, we analyzed the expression of several members of the TAS2Rs family of bitter receptors in human testis and in ejaculated sperm before and after in vitro selection and capacitation. Our results provide evidence for the expression of TAS2R genes, with TAS2R14 being the most expressed bitter receptor subtype in both testis tissue and sperm cells, respectively. In addition, it was observed that in vitro capacitation significantly affects both the expression and the subcellular localization of these receptors in isolated spermatozoa. Interestingly, α-gustducin and α-transducin, two Gα subunits expressed in taste buds on the tongue, are also expressed in human spermatozoa; moreover, a subcellular redistribution of both G protein α-subunits to different sub-compartments of sperm was registered upon in vitro capacitation. Finally, we shed light on the possible downstream transduction pathway initiated upon taste receptor activation in the male reproductive system. Performing ultrasensitive droplets digital PCR assays to quantify RNA copy numbers of a distinct gene, we found a significant correlation between the expression of TAS2Rs and TRPM5 (r = 0.87), the cation channel involved in bitter but also sweet and umami taste transduction in taste buds on the tongue. Even if further studies are needed to clarify the precise functional role of taste receptors for successful reproduction, the presented findings significantly extend our knowledge of the biological role of TAS2Rs for human male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Governini
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Siena University, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.G.); (B.S.); (V.P.); (L.C.); (C.M.); (V.D.L.); (P.P.)
| | - Bianca Semplici
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Siena University, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.G.); (B.S.); (V.P.); (L.C.); (C.M.); (V.D.L.); (P.P.)
| | - Valentina Pavone
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Siena University, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.G.); (B.S.); (V.P.); (L.C.); (C.M.); (V.D.L.); (P.P.)
| | - Laura Crifasi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Siena University, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.G.); (B.S.); (V.P.); (L.C.); (C.M.); (V.D.L.); (P.P.)
| | - Camilla Marrocco
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Siena University, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.G.); (B.S.); (V.P.); (L.C.); (C.M.); (V.D.L.); (P.P.)
| | - Vincenzo De Leo
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Siena University, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.G.); (B.S.); (V.P.); (L.C.); (C.M.); (V.D.L.); (P.P.)
| | - Elisabeth Arlt
- Walther Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, LMU Munich, 80336 Muenchen, Germany; (E.A.); (T.G.); (I.B.)
| | - Thomas Gudermann
- Walther Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, LMU Munich, 80336 Muenchen, Germany; (E.A.); (T.G.); (I.B.)
| | - Ingrid Boekhoff
- Walther Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, LMU Munich, 80336 Muenchen, Germany; (E.A.); (T.G.); (I.B.)
| | - Alice Luddi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Siena University, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.G.); (B.S.); (V.P.); (L.C.); (C.M.); (V.D.L.); (P.P.)
| | - Paola Piomboni
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Siena University, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.G.); (B.S.); (V.P.); (L.C.); (C.M.); (V.D.L.); (P.P.)
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Bitter tastant quinine modulates glucagon-like peptide-1 exocytosis from clonal GLUTag enteroendocrine L cells via actin reorganization. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 500:723-730. [PMID: 29684353 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.04.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Enteroendocrine L cells in the gastrointestinal tract secrete glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which plays an important role in glucose homeostasis. Here we investigated the effect of bitter tastant quinine on GLP-1 secretion using clonal GLUTag mouse enteroendocrine L cells. We found that GLUTag cells expressed putative quinine receptors at mRNA levels. Although application of quinine resulted in an increase of intracellular Ca2+ levels, which was mediated by Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca2+ influx through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels, quinine had little effect on GLP-1 secretion. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and immunocytochemistry revealed that GLP-1-containing vesicles remained unfused with the plasma membrane and facilitated actin polymerization beneath the plasma membrane after application of quinine, respectively. Interestingly, application of forskolin together with quinine induced GLP-1 exocytosis from the cells. These results suggest that quinine does not induce GLP-1 secretion because it facilitates Ca2+ increase and actin reorganization but not cAMP increase, and both Ca2+ and cAMP are essential for GLP-1 secretion.
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