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Maaroufi H. Novel gurmarin-like peptides from Gymnema sylvestre and their interactions with the sweet taste receptor T1R2/T1R3. Chem Senses 2024; 49:bjae018. [PMID: 38695158 PMCID: PMC11103048 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjae018] [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] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Gymnema sylvestre (GS) is a traditional medicinal plant known for its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. Gurmarin (hereafter Gur-1) is the only known active peptide in GS. Gur-1 has a suppressive sweet taste effect in rodents but no or only a very weak effect in humans. Here, 8 gurmarin-like peptides (Gur-2 to Gur-9) and their isoforms are reported in the GS transcriptome. The molecular mechanism of sweet taste suppression by Gur-1 is still largely unknown. Therefore, the complete architecture of human and mouse sweet taste receptors T1R2/T1R3 and their interaction with Gur-1 to Gur-9 were predicted by AlphaFold-Multimer (AF-M) and validated. Only Gur-1 and Gur-2 interact with the T1R2/T1R3 receptor. Indeed, Gur-1 and Gur-2 bind to the region of the cysteine-rich domain (CRD) and the transmembrane domain (TMD) of the mouse T1R2 subunit. In contrast, only Gur-2 binds to the TMD of the human T1R2 subunit. This result suggests that Gur-2 may have a suppressive sweet taste effect in humans. Furthermore, AF-M predicted that Gα-gustducin, a protein involved in sweet taste transduction, interacts with the intracellular domain of the T1R2 subunit. These results highlight an unexpected diversity of gurmarin-like peptides in GS and provide the complete predicted architecture of the human and mouse sweet taste receptor with the putative binding sites of Gur-1, Gur-2, and Gα-gustducin. In addition, gurmarin-like peptides may serve as promising drug scaffolds for the development of antidiabetic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halim Maaroufi
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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2
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Ki SY, Jeong YT. Taste Receptors beyond Taste Buds. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179677. [PMID: 36077074 PMCID: PMC9455917 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Taste receptors are responsible for detecting their ligands not only in taste receptor cells (TRCs) but also in non-gustatory organs. For several decades, many research groups have accumulated evidence for such “ectopic” expression of taste receptors. More recently, some of the physiologic functions (apart from taste) of these ectopic taste receptors have been identified. Here, we summarize our current understanding of these ectopic taste receptors across multiple organs. With a particular focus on the specialized epithelial cells called tuft cells, which are now considered siblings of type II TRCs, we divide the ectopic expression of taste receptors into two categories: taste receptors in TRC-like cells outside taste buds and taste receptors with surprising ectopic expression in completely different cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Young Ki
- Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Yong Taek Jeong
- Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2286-1295
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3
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von Molitor E, Riedel K, Krohn M, Hafner M, Rudolf R, Cesetti T. Sweet Taste Is Complex: Signaling Cascades and Circuits Involved in Sweet Sensation. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:667709. [PMID: 34239428 PMCID: PMC8258107 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.667709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sweetness is the preferred taste of humans and many animals, likely because sugars are a primary source of energy. In many mammals, sweet compounds are sensed in the tongue by the gustatory organ, the taste buds. Here, a group of taste bud cells expresses a canonical sweet taste receptor, whose activation induces Ca2+ rise, cell depolarization and ATP release to communicate with afferent gustatory nerves. The discovery of the sweet taste receptor, 20 years ago, was a milestone in the understanding of sweet signal transduction and is described here from a historical perspective. Our review briefly summarizes the major findings of the canonical sweet taste pathway, and then focuses on molecular details, about the related downstream signaling, that are still elusive or have been neglected. In this context, we discuss evidence supporting the existence of an alternative pathway, independent of the sweet taste receptor, to sense sugars and its proposed role in glucose homeostasis. Further, given that sweet taste receptor expression has been reported in many other organs, the physiological role of these extraoral receptors is addressed. Finally, and along these lines, we expand on the multiple direct and indirect effects of sugars on the brain. In summary, the review tries to stimulate a comprehensive understanding of how sweet compounds signal to the brain upon taste bud cells activation, and how this gustatory process is integrated with gastro-intestinal sugar sensing to create a hedonic and metabolic representation of sugars, which finally drives our behavior. Understanding of this is indeed a crucial step in developing new strategies to prevent obesity and associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena von Molitor
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Hochschule Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | | | - Mathias Hafner
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Hochschule Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Rudolf
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Hochschule Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tiziana Cesetti
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Hochschule Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
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Larson ED, Vandenbeuch A, Anderson CB, Kinnamon SC. GAD65Cre Drives Reporter Expression in Multiple Taste Cell Types. Chem Senses 2021; 46:bjab033. [PMID: 34160573 PMCID: PMC8276891 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjab033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In taste buds, Type I cells represent the majority of cells (50-60%) and primarily have a glial-like function in taste buds. However, recent studies suggest that they have additional sensory and signaling functions including amiloride-sensitive salt transduction, oxytocin modulation of taste, and substance P mediated GABA release. Nonetheless, the overall function of Type I cells in transduction and signaling remains unclear, primarily because of the lack of a reliable reporter for this cell type. GAD65 expression is specific to Type I taste cells and GAD65 has been used as a Cre driver to study Type I cells in salt taste transduction. To test the specificity of transgene-driven expression, we crossed GAD65Cre mice with floxed tdTomato and Channelrhodopsin (ChR2) lines and examined the progeny with immunochemistry, chorda tympani recording, and calcium imaging. We report that while many tdTomato+ taste cells express NTPDase2, a specific marker of Type I cells, we see some expression of tdTomato in both Gustducin and SNAP25-positive taste cells. We also see ChR2 in cells just outside the fungiform taste buds. Chorda tympani recordings in the GAD65Cre/ChR2 mice show large responses to blue light. Furthermore, several isolated tdTomato-positive taste cells responded to KCl depolarization with increases in intracellular calcium, indicating the presence of voltage-gated calcium channels. Taken together, these data suggest that GAD65Cre mice drive expression in multiple taste cell types and thus cannot be considered a reliable reporter of Type I cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Larson
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Aurelie Vandenbeuch
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Catherine B Anderson
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sue C Kinnamon
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, Aurora, CO, USA
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Schroer AB, Branyan KW, Gross JD, Chantler PD, Kimple AJ, Vandenbeuch A, Siderovski DP. The stability of tastant detection by mouse lingual chemosensory tissue requires Regulator of G protein Signaling-21 (RGS21). Chem Senses 2021; 46:6414340. [PMID: 34718440 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The T1R and T2R families of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) initiate tastant perception by signaling via guanine nucleotide exchange and hydrolysis performed by associated heterotrimeric G proteins (Gαβγ). Heterotrimeric G protein signal termination is sped up by Gα-directed GTPase-accelerating proteins (GAPs) known as the Regulators of G protein Signaling (RGS proteins). Of this family, RGS21 is highly expressed in lingual epithelial cells and we have shown it acting in vitro to decrease the potency of bitterants on cultured cells. However, constitutive RGS21 loss in mice reduces organismal response to GPCR-mediated tastants-opposite to expectations arising from observed in vitro activity of RGS21 as a GAP and inhibitor of T2R signaling. Here, we show reduced quinine aversion and reduced sucrose preference by mice lacking RGS21 does not result from post-ingestive effects, as taste-salient brief-access tests confirm the reduced bitterant aversion and reduced sweetener preference seen using two-bottle choice testing. Eliminating Rgs21 expression after chemosensory system development, via tamoxifen-induced Cre recombination in eight week-old mice, led to a reduction in quinine aversive behavior that advanced over time, suggesting that RGS21 functions as a negative regulator to sustain stable bitter tastant reception. Consistent with this notion, we observed downregulation of multiple T2R proteins in the lingual tissue of Rgs21-deficient mice. Reduced tastant-mediated responses exhibited by mice lacking Rgs21 expression either since birth or in adulthood has highlighted the potential requirement for a GPCR GAP to maintain the full character of tastant signaling, likely at the level of mitigating receptor downregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam B Schroer
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, 64 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Kayla W Branyan
- Division of Exercise Physiology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, 64 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Joshua D Gross
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, 307 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Paul D Chantler
- Division of Exercise Physiology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, 64 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Adam J Kimple
- Department of Otolaryngology and Marsico Lung Institute, UNC School of Medicine , 170 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7070, USA
| | - Aurelie Vandenbeuch
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado-Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David P Siderovski
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
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Abstract
All organisms have the ability to detect chemicals in the environment, which likely evolved out of organisms' needs to detect food sources and avoid potentially harmful compounds. The taste system detects chemicals and is used to determine whether potential food items will be ingested or rejected. The sense of taste detects five known taste qualities: bitter, sweet, salty, sour, and umami, which is the detection of amino acids, specifically glutamate. These different taste qualities encompass a wide variety of chemicals that differ in their structure and as a result, the peripheral taste utilizes numerous and diverse mechanisms to detect these stimuli. In this chapter, we will summarize what is currently known about the signaling mechanisms used by taste cells to transduce stimulus signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debarghya Dutta Banik
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kathryn F Medler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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7
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Ahmad R, Dalziel JE. G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Taste Physiology and Pharmacology. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:587664. [PMID: 33390961 PMCID: PMC7774309 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.587664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise the largest receptor family in mammals and are responsible for the regulation of most physiological functions. Besides mediating the sensory modalities of olfaction and vision, GPCRs also transduce signals for three basic taste qualities of sweet, umami (savory taste), and bitter, as well as the flavor sensation kokumi. Taste GPCRs reside in specialised taste receptor cells (TRCs) within taste buds. Type I taste GPCRs (TAS1R) form heterodimeric complexes that function as sweet (TAS1R2/TAS1R3) or umami (TAS1R1/TAS1R3) taste receptors, whereas Type II are monomeric bitter taste receptors or kokumi/calcium-sensing receptors. Sweet, umami and kokumi receptors share structural similarities in containing multiple agonist binding sites with pronounced selectivity while most bitter receptors contain a single binding site that is broadly tuned to a diverse array of bitter ligands in a non-selective manner. Tastant binding to the receptor activates downstream secondary messenger pathways leading to depolarization and increased intracellular calcium in TRCs, that in turn innervate the gustatory cortex in the brain. Despite recent advances in our understanding of the relationship between agonist binding and the conformational changes required for receptor activation, several major challenges and questions remain in taste GPCR biology that are discussed in the present review. In recent years, intensive integrative approaches combining heterologous expression, mutagenesis and homology modeling have together provided insight regarding agonist binding site locations and molecular mechanisms of orthosteric and allosteric modulation. In addition, studies based on transgenic mice, utilizing either global or conditional knock out strategies have provided insights to taste receptor signal transduction mechanisms and their roles in physiology. However, the need for more functional studies in a physiological context is apparent and would be enhanced by a crystallized structure of taste receptors for a more complete picture of their pharmacological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raise Ahmad
- Food Nutrition and Health Team, Food and Bio-based Products Group, AgResearch, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Julie E Dalziel
- Food Nutrition and Health Team, Food and Bio-based Products Group, AgResearch, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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8
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An alternative pathway for sweet sensation: possible mechanisms and physiological relevance. Pflugers Arch 2020; 472:1667-1691. [PMID: 33030576 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-020-02467-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sweet substances are detected by taste-bud cells upon binding to the sweet-taste receptor, a T1R2/T1R3 heterodimeric G protein-coupled receptor. In addition, experiments with mouse models lacking the sweet-taste receptor or its downstream signaling components led to the proposal of a parallel "alternative pathway" that may serve as metabolic sensor and energy regulator. Indeed, these mice showed residual nerve responses and behavioral attraction to sugars and oligosaccharides but not to artificial sweeteners. In analogy to pancreatic β cells, such alternative mechanism, to sense glucose in sweet-sensitive taste cells, might involve glucose transporters and KATP channels. Their activation may induce depolarization-dependent Ca2+ signals and release of GLP-1, which binds to its receptors on intragemmal nerve fibers. Via unknown neuronal and/or endocrine mechanisms, this pathway may contribute to both, behavioral attraction and/or induction of cephalic-phase insulin release upon oral sweet stimulation. Here, we critically review the evidence for a parallel sweet-sensitive pathway, involved signaling mechanisms, neural processing, interactions with endocrine hormonal mechanisms, and its sensitivity to different stimuli. Finally, we propose its physiological role in detecting the energy content of food and preparing for digestion.
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9
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Bloxham CJ, Foster SR, Thomas WG. A Bitter Taste in Your Heart. Front Physiol 2020; 11:431. [PMID: 32457649 PMCID: PMC7225360 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The human genome contains ∼29 bitter taste receptors (T2Rs), which are responsible for detecting thousands of bitter ligands, including toxic and aversive compounds. This sentinel function varies between individuals and is underpinned by naturally occurring T2R polymorphisms, which have also been associated with disease. Recent studies have reported the expression of T2Rs and their downstream signaling components within non-gustatory tissues, including the heart. Though the precise role of T2Rs in the heart remains unclear, evidence points toward a role in cardiac contractility and overall vascular tone. In this review, we summarize the extra-oral expression of T2Rs, focusing on evidence for expression in heart; we speculate on the range of potential ligands that may activate them; we define the possible signaling pathways they activate; and we argue that their discovery in heart predicts an, as yet, unappreciated cardiac physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor J Bloxham
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon R Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Walter G Thomas
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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Qin Y, Sukumaran SK, Jyotaki M, Redding K, Jiang P, Margolskee RF. Gli3 is a negative regulator of Tas1r3-expressing taste cells. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007058. [PMID: 29415007 PMCID: PMC5819828 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse taste receptor cells survive from 3-24 days, necessitating their regeneration throughout adulthood. In anterior tongue, sonic hedgehog (SHH), released by a subpopulation of basal taste cells, regulates transcription factors Gli2 and Gli3 in stem cells to control taste cell regeneration. Using single-cell RNA-Seq we found that Gli3 is highly expressed in Tas1r3-expressing taste receptor cells and Lgr5+ taste stem cells in posterior tongue. By PCR and immunohistochemistry we found that Gli3 was expressed in taste buds in all taste fields. Conditional knockout mice lacking Gli3 in the posterior tongue (Gli3CKO) had larger taste buds containing more taste cells than did control wild-type (Gli3WT) mice. In comparison to wild-type mice, Gli3CKO mice had more Lgr5+ and Tas1r3+ cells, but fewer type III cells. Similar changes were observed ex vivo in Gli3CKO taste organoids cultured from Lgr5+ taste stem cells. Further, the expression of several taste marker and Gli3 target genes was altered in Gli3CKO mice and/or organoids. Mirroring these changes, Gli3CKO mice had increased lick responses to sweet and umami stimuli, decreased lick responses to bitter and sour taste stimuli, and increased glossopharyngeal taste nerve responses to sweet and bitter compounds. Our results indicate that Gli3 is a suppressor of stem cell proliferation that affects the number and function of mature taste cells, especially Tas1r3+ cells, in adult posterior tongue. Our findings shed light on the role of the Shh pathway in adult taste cell regeneration and may help devise strategies for treating taste distortions from chemotherapy and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumei Qin
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gonshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sunil K. Sukumaran
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Masafumi Jyotaki
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kevin Redding
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Peihua Jiang
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Robert F. Margolskee
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Zapata I, Serpell JA, Alvarez CE. Genetic mapping of canine fear and aggression. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:572. [PMID: 27503363 PMCID: PMC4977763 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2936-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fear/anxiety and anger/aggression greatly influence health, quality of life and social interactions. They are a huge burden to wellbeing, and personal and public economics. However, while much is known about the physiology and neuroanatomy of such emotions, little is known about their genetics - most importantly, why some individuals are more susceptible to pathology under stress. RESULTS We conducted genomewide association (GWA) mapping of breed stereotypes for many fear and aggression traits across several hundred dogs from diverse breeds. We confirmed those findings using GWA in a second cohort of partially overlapping breeds. Lastly, we used the validated loci to create a model that effectively predicted fear and aggression stereotypes in a third group of dog breeds that were not involved in the mapping studies. We found that i) known IGF1 and HMGA2 loci variants for small body size are associated with separation anxiety, touch-sensitivity, owner directed aggression and dog rivalry; and ii) two loci, between GNAT3 and CD36 on chr18, and near IGSF1 on chrX, are associated with several traits, including touch-sensitivity, non-social fear, and fear and aggression that are directed toward unfamiliar dogs and humans. All four genome loci are among the most highly evolutionarily-selected in dogs, and each of those was previously shown to be associated with morphological traits. We propose that the IGF1 and HMGA2 loci are candidates for identical variation being associated with both behavior and morphology. In contrast, we show that the GNAT3-CD36 locus has distinct variants for behavior and morphology. The chrX region is a special case due to its extensive linkage disequilibrium (LD). Our evidence strongly suggests that sociability (which we propose is associated with HS6ST2) and fear/aggression are two distinct GWA loci within this LD block on chrX, but there is almost perfect LD between the peaks for fear/aggression and animal size. CONCLUSIONS We have mapped many canine fear and aggression traits to single haplotypes at the GNAT3-CD36 and IGSF1 loci. CD36 is widely expressed, but areas of the amygdala and hypothalamus are among the brain regions with highest enrichment; and CD36-knockout mice are known to have significantly increased anxiety and aggression. Both of the other genes have very high tissue-specificity and are very abundantly expressed in brain regions that comprise the core anatomy of fear and aggression - the amygdala to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We propose that reduced-fear variants at these loci may have been involved in the domestication process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isain Zapata
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205 USA
| | - James A. Serpell
- Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Carlos E. Alvarez
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205 USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
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12
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Devillier P, Naline E, Grassin-Delyle S. The pharmacology of bitter taste receptors and their role in human airways. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 155:11-21. [PMID: 26272040 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The receptors involved in bitter taste perception (bitter taste receptors--T2Rs) constitute a family of G-protein-coupled receptors, of which around 29 subtypes have been identified in humans. T2R expression was initially thought to be confined to the oral cavity but has recently been described in a range of other tissues (such as the heart, gut, nasal cavity and lungs) and cell types (chemosensory, smooth muscle, endothelial, epithelial and inflammatory cells). Although it is still not clear whether endogenous T2R agonists exist, the T2R receptors recognize many natural and synthetic compounds, such as the acyl-homoserine lactones produced by bacteria, caffeine, chloroquine, and erythromycin. In the upper airways, T2Rs are involved in neurogenic inflammation and bacterial clearance. Their known effects in the lungs are exerted at three different levels. Firstly, T2R agonists increase the beating frequency of cilia on epithelial cells. Secondly, the T2Rs induce bronchial smooth muscle cells to relax. Thirdly, the T2R receptors expressed on immune cells (such as macrophages and mast cells) modulate production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, T2R agonists are effective in inhibiting lung inflammation or smooth muscle contraction in ex vivo and asthma animal models, and are known to be involved in bacterial killing in the nasal cavity and enhancing lung function in humans. This review focuses on the pharmacology and physiological functions of T2R receptors in the upper and lower airways. It presents recently acquired knowledge suggesting that T2Rs may become valuable drug targets in the treatment of diseases such as asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Devillier
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, UPRES EA220, Hôpital Foch, 11 rue Guillaume Lenoir, 92150 Suresnes, France; Université Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, UFR Sciences de la Santé, 2 avenue de la source de la Bièvre, 78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Emmanuel Naline
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, UPRES EA220, Hôpital Foch, 11 rue Guillaume Lenoir, 92150 Suresnes, France; Université Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, UFR Sciences de la Santé, 2 avenue de la source de la Bièvre, 78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Stanislas Grassin-Delyle
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, UPRES EA220, Hôpital Foch, 11 rue Guillaume Lenoir, 92150 Suresnes, France; Université Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, UFR Sciences de la Santé, 2 avenue de la source de la Bièvre, 78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France.
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13
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Lee RJ, Cohen NA. Taste receptors in innate immunity. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:217-36. [PMID: 25323130 PMCID: PMC4286424 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1736-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 09/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Taste receptors were first identified on the tongue, where they initiate a signaling pathway that communicates information to the brain about the nutrient content or potential toxicity of ingested foods. However, recent research has shown that taste receptors are also expressed in a myriad of other tissues, from the airway and gastrointestinal epithelia to the pancreas and brain. The functions of many of these extraoral taste receptors remain unknown, but emerging evidence suggests that bitter and sweet taste receptors in the airway are important sentinels of innate immunity. This review discusses taste receptor signaling, focusing on the G-protein-coupled receptors that detect bitter, sweet, and savory tastes, followed by an overview of extraoral taste receptors and in-depth discussion of studies demonstrating the roles of taste receptors in airway innate immunity. Future research on extraoral taste receptors has significant potential for identification of novel immune mechanisms and insights into host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Ravdin Building, 5th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Noam A. Cohen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Ravdin Building, 5th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center Surgical Services, 3900 Woodland Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
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Sawano S, Seto E, Mori T, Hayashi Y. G-Protein-Dependent and -Independent Pathways in Denatonium Signal Transduction. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2014; 69:1643-51. [PMID: 16195580 DOI: 10.1271/bbb.69.1643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
To clarify the involvement of G protein in denatonium signal transduction, we carried out a whole-cell patch-clamp analysis with isolated taste cells in mice. Two different responses were observed by applying GDP-beta-S, a G-protein inhibitor. One response to denatonium was reduced by GDP-beta-S (G-protein-dependent), whereas the other was not affected (G-protein-independent). These different patterns were also observed by concurrently inhibiting the phospholipase C beta2 and phosphodiesterase pathways via G protein. These data suggest dual, G-protein-dependent and -independent mechanisms for denatonium. Moreover, the denatonium responses were not attenuated by singly inhibiting the phospholipase C beta2 or phosphodiesterase pathway, implying that both pathways were involved in G-protein-dependent transduction. In the G-protein-independent cells, the response was abolished by the depletion of calcium ions within the intracellular store. These results suggest that Ca2+ release from the intracellular store is an important factor. Our data demonstrate multiple transduction pathways for denatonium in mammalian taste cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoko Sawano
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
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15
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Mokadem M, Zechner JF, Margolskee RF, Drucker DJ, Aguirre V. Effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on energy and glucose homeostasis are preserved in two mouse models of functional glucagon-like peptide-1 deficiency. Mol Metab 2013; 3:191-201. [PMID: 24634822 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2013.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2013] [Revised: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion is greatly enhanced after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). While intact GLP-1exerts its metabolic effects via the classical GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R), proteolytic processing of circulating GLP-1 yields metabolites such as GLP-1(9-36)amide/GLP-1(28-36)amide, that exert similar effects independent of the classical GLP-1R. We investigated the hypothesis that GLP-1, acting via these metabolites or through its known receptor, is required for the beneficial effects of RYGB using two models of functional GLP-1 deficiency - α-gustducin-deficient (α-Gust (-/-)) mice, which exhibit attenuated nutrient-stimulated GLP-1 secretion, and GLP-1R-deficient mice. We show that the effect of RYGB to enhance glucose-stimulated GLP-1 secretion was greatly attenuated in α-Gust (-/-) mice. In both genetic models, RYGB reduced body weight and improved glucose homeostasis to levels observed in lean control mice. Therefore, GLP-1, acting through its classical GLP-1R or its bioactive metabolites, does not seem to be involved in the effects of RYGB on body weight and glucose homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Mokadem
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Juliet F Zechner
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Robert F Margolskee
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel J Drucker
- Department of Medicine, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, University of Toronto, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X5
| | - Vincent Aguirre
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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16
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Lee RJ, Chen B, Redding KM, Margolskee RF, Cohen NA. Mouse nasal epithelial innate immune responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing molecules require taste signaling components. Innate Immun 2013; 20:606-17. [PMID: 24045336 DOI: 10.1177/1753425913503386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously observed that the human bitter taste receptor T2R38 is an important component of upper respiratory innate defense because it detects acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum-sensing molecules secreted by Gram-negative bacteria. T2R38 activation in human sinonasal epithelial cells stimulates calcium and NO signals that increase mucociliary clearance, the major physical respiratory defense against inhaled pathogens. While mice do not have a clear T2R38 ortholog, they do have bitter taste receptors capable of responding to T2R38 agonists, suggesting that T2R-mediated innate immune mechanisms may be conserved in mice. We examined whether AHLs activate calcium and NO signaling in mouse nasal epithelial cells, and utilized pharmacology, as well as cells from knockout mice lacking important components of canonical taste signal transduction pathways, to determine if AHL-stimulated responses require taste signaling molecules. We found that AHLs stimulate calcium-dependent NO production that increases mucociliary clearance and thus likely serves an innate immune role against Gram-negative bacteria. These responses require PLCβ2 and TRPM5 taste signaling components, but not α-gustducin. These data suggest the mouse may be a useful model for further studies of T2R-mediated innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bei Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kevin M Redding
- Monell Chemical Senses Center and Philadelphia VA Medical Center Surgical Services, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert F Margolskee
- Monell Chemical Senses Center and Philadelphia VA Medical Center Surgical Services, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Noam A Cohen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA Surgical Services, Philadelphia Veterans Administration Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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17
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Sclafani A, Ackroff K. Role of gut nutrient sensing in stimulating appetite and conditioning food preferences. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2012; 302:R1119-33. [PMID: 22442194 PMCID: PMC3362145 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00038.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of taste and nutrient receptors (chemosensors) in the gut has led to intensive research on their functions. Whereas oral sugar, fat, and umami taste receptors stimulate nutrient appetite, these and other chemosensors in the gut have been linked to digestive, metabolic, and satiating effects that influence nutrient utilization and inhibit appetite. Gut chemosensors may have an additional function as well: to provide positive feedback signals that condition food preferences and stimulate appetite. The postoral stimulatory actions of nutrients are documented by flavor preference conditioning and appetite stimulation produced by gastric and intestinal infusions of carbohydrate, fat, and protein. Recent findings suggest an upper intestinal site of action, although postabsorptive nutrient actions may contribute to flavor preference learning. The gut chemosensors that generate nutrient conditioning signals remain to be identified; some have been excluded, including sweet (T1R3) and fatty acid (CD36) sensors. The gut-brain signaling pathways (neural, hormonal) are incompletely understood, although vagal afferents are implicated in glutamate conditioning but not carbohydrate or fat conditioning. Brain dopamine reward systems are involved in postoral carbohydrate and fat conditioning but less is known about the reward systems mediating protein/glutamate conditioning. Continued research on the postoral stimulatory actions of nutrients may enhance our understanding of human food preference learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Sclafani
- Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA.
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18
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Tomonari H, Miura H, Nakayama A, Matsumura E, Ooki M, Ninomiya Y, Harada S. Gα-gustducin is extensively coexpressed with sweet and bitter taste receptors in both the soft palate and fungiform papillae but has a different functional significance. Chem Senses 2011; 37:241-51. [PMID: 22016481 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjr098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To clarify the regional differences in the expression and functional significance of Gα-gustducin in soft palate (SP) and fungiform (FF) taste buds, we examined the coexpression of Gα-gustducin with taste receptors and the impact of Gα-gustducin knockout (gKO) on neural responses to several sweet and bitter compounds. Sweet responses from both the greater superficial petrosal (GSP) and chorda tympani (CT) nerves in gKO mice were markedly depleted, reflecting overlapping expression of Gα-gustducin and Tas1r2. However, although Gα-gustducin was expressed in 87% and 88% of Tas2rs cells in the SP and FF, respectively, there were no statistically significant differences in the CT responses to quinine-HCl (QHCl) and denatonium (Den) between gKO and wild-type (WT) mice. In contrast, GSP responses to these compounds were markedly reduced in gKO mice with an apparent elevation of thresholds (>10-fold). These results suggest that 1) Gα-gustducin plays a critical role in sweet transduction in both the SP and the FF, 2) other Gα subunits coexpressed with Gα-gustducin in the FF are sufficient for responses to QHCl and Den, and 3) robust GSP responses to QHCl and Den occur in the SP by a Gα-gustducin-dependent mechanism, which is absent in the FF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Tomonari
- Department of Oral Physiology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima-shi, Kagoshima Japan
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19
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Galindo MM, Voigt N, Stein J, van Lengerich J, Raguse JD, Hofmann T, Meyerhof W, Behrens M. G protein-coupled receptors in human fat taste perception. Chem Senses 2011; 37:123-39. [PMID: 21868624 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjr069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to carbohydrates and proteins, which are detected by specialized taste receptors in the forms of their respective building blocks, sugars, and L-amino acids, the third macronutrient, lipids, has until now not been associated with gustatory receptors. Instead, the recognition of fat stimuli was believed to rely mostly on textural, olfactory, and postingestive cues. During the recent years, however, research done mainly in rodent models revealed an additional gustatory component for the detection of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), the main taste-activating component of lipids. Concomitantly, a number of candidate fat taste receptors were proposed to be involved in rodent's gustatory fatty acid perception. Compared with rodent models, much less is known about human fat taste. In order to investigate the ability of the human gustatory system to respond to fat components, we performed sensory experiments with fatty acids of different chain lengths and derivatives thereof. We found that our panelists discriminated a "fatty" and an irritant "scratchy" taste component, with the "fatty" percept restricted to LCFAs. Using functional calcium-imaging experiments with the human orthologs of mouse candidate fat receptors belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor family, we correlated human sensory data with receptor properties characterized in vitro. We demonstrated that the pharmacological activation profile of human GPR40 and GPR120, 2 LCFA-specific receptors associated with gustatory fat perception in rodents, is inconsistent with the "scratchy" sensation of human subjects and more consistent with the percept described as "fatty." Expression analysis of GPR40 and GPR120 in human gustatory tissues revealed that, while the GPR40 gene is not expressed, GPR120 is detected in gustatory and nongustatory epithelia. On a cellular level, we found GPR120 mRNA and protein in taste buds as well as in the surrounding epithelial cells. We conclude that GPR120 may indeed participate in human gustatory fatty acid perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Mercedes Galindo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany
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20
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Jahng JW, Moon YW, Lee JH. Immunohistochemical detection of capsaicin receptors in taste cells of human circumvallate papillae. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoms.2010.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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21
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Fushan AA, Simons CT, Slack JP, Drayna D. Association between common variation in genes encoding sweet taste signaling components and human sucrose perception. Chem Senses 2010; 35:579-92. [PMID: 20660057 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjq063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in taste perception of different chemical substances is a well-known phenomenon in both humans and animals. Recent advances in the understanding of sweet taste signaling have identified a number of proteins involved in this signal transduction. We evaluated the hypothesis that sequence variations occurring in genes encoding taste signaling molecules can influence sweet taste perception in humans. Our population consisted of unrelated individuals (n = 160) of Caucasian, African-American, and Asian descent. Threshold and suprathreshold sensitivities of participants for sucrose were estimated using a sorting test and signal detection analysis that produced cumulative R-index area under the curve (AUC) scores. Genetic association analysis revealed significant correlation of sucrose AUC scores with genetic variation occurring in the GNAT3 gene (single point P = 10(-3) to 10(-4)), which encodes the taste-specific G(alpha) protein subunit gustducin. Subsequent sequencing identified additional GNAT3 variations having significant association with sucrose AUC scores. Collectively, GNAT3 polymorphisms explain 13% of the variation in sucrose perception. Our findings underscore the importance of common genetic variants influencing human taste perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey A Fushan
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
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22
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Chen K, Yan J, Suo Y, Li J, Wang Q, Lv B. Nutritional status alters saccharin intake and sweet receptor mRNA expression in rat taste buds. Brain Res 2010; 1325:53-62. [PMID: 20156422 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2009] [Revised: 01/15/2010] [Accepted: 02/05/2010] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Sweet taste usually signifies the presence of caloric food. It is commonly accepted that a close association exists among sweet taste perception, preference, and nutritional status. However, the mechanisms involved remain unknown. To investigate whether nutritional status affects the preference for palatable solutions and alters sweet taste receptor gene expression in rats, we measured saccharin intake and preference using a two-bottle preference test, and changes in body weight, plasma leptin levels, and gene expression for the sweet taste receptor in taste buds in high-fat diet-induced obese rats and chronically diet-restricted rats. We found that the consumption and preference ratios for 0.01 and 0.04 M saccharin were significantly lower in the high-fat diet-induced obese rats than in the normal diet rats, while the serum leptin levels were markedly increased in obese rats. Consistent with the changes in saccharin intake, the gene expression level of the sweet taste receptor T1R3 was significantly decreased in the high-fat diet-induced obese rats compared with the control rats. By contrast, the chronically diet-restricted rats showed remarkably enhanced consumption and preference for 0.04 M saccharin. The serum leptin concentration was decreased, and the gene expression of the leptin receptor was markedly increased in the taste buds. In conclusion, our results suggest that nutritional status alters saccharin preference and the expression of T1R3 in taste buds. These processes may be involved in the mechanisms underlying the modulation of peripheral sweet taste sensitivity, in which leptin plays a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Chen
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xian Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xian, Shaanxi, PR China
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23
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Wellendorph P, Johansen LD, Bräuner-Osborne H. The Emerging Role of Promiscuous 7TM Receptors as Chemosensors for Food Intake. INCRETINS AND INSULIN SECRETION 2010; 84:151-84. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-381517-0.00005-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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24
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Moon YW, Lee JH, Yoo SB, Jahng JW. Capsaicin receptors are colocalized with sweet/bitter receptors in the taste sensing cells of circumvallate papillae. GENES AND NUTRITION 2009; 5:251-5. [PMID: 20016958 DOI: 10.1007/s12263-009-0164-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2009] [Accepted: 11/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We examined co-localization of vanilloid receptor (VR1) with sweet receptors T1R2, T1R3, or bitter receptor T2R6 in taste receptor cells of rat circumvallate papillae. Tissue sections of rat circumvallate papillae were doubly reacted with anti-VR1 antibodies and anti-T1R2, anti-T1R3 or anti-T2R6 antibodies, using double-immunofluorescence histochemistry technique. Localizations of VR1, T1Rs and T2R6 in the vallate taste cells containing α-gustducin were also examined. VR1 immunoreactivities (-ir) were observed in subsets of taste cells in the circumvallate papillae, and 96-99% of the vallate taste cells exhibiting T1R2-, T1R3- or T2R6-ir co-exhibited VR1-ir. Approximately half of T2R6-ir cells (~49%), and 50-58% of T1Rs-ir cells, co-exhibited α-gustducin-ir in the vallate taste buds. About 58% of VR1-ir cells in the vallate exhibited α-gustducin-ir as well. Results support the idea that capsaicin may interact with the transduction pathways of sweet and bitter taste stimuli, possibly in mediation of its receptor VR1 localized in taste receptor cells. Additionally, the partial co-localization of α-gustducin with VR1 suggests that a tentative modulatory function of capsaicin in sweet and bitter transductions in the rat circumvallate comprises of both α-gustducin-mediated and non-mediated transduction pathways.
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25
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26
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Wellendorph P, Johansen LD, Bräuner-Osborne H. Molecular pharmacology of promiscuous seven transmembrane receptors sensing organic nutrients. Mol Pharmacol 2009; 76:453-65. [PMID: 19487246 DOI: 10.1124/mol.109.055244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of highly promiscuous seven transmembrane (7TM) receptors have been cloned and characterized within the last few years. It is noteworthy that many of these receptors are activated broadly by amino acids, proteolytic degradation products, carbohydrates, or free fatty acids and are expressed in taste tissue, the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, adipose tissue, and/or kidney. These receptors thus hold the potential to act as sensors of food intake, regulating, for example, release of incretin hormones from the gut, insulin/glucagon from the pancreas, and leptin from adipose tissue. The promiscuous tendency in ligand recognition of these receptors is in contrast to the typical specific interaction with one physiological agonist seen for most receptors, which challenges the classic "lock-and-key" concept. We here review the molecular mechanisms of nutrient sensing of the calcium-sensing receptor, the G protein-coupled receptor family C, group 6, subtype A (GPRC6A), and the taste1 receptor T1R1/T1R3, which are sensing L-alpha-amino acids, the carbohydrate-sensing T1R2/T1R3 receptor, the proteolytic degradation product sensor GPR93 (also termed GPR92), and the free fatty acid (FFA) sensing receptors FFA1, FFA2, FFA3, GPR84, and GPR120. The involvement of the individual receptors in sensing of food intake has been validated to different degrees because of limited availability of specific pharmacological tools and/or receptor knockout mice. However, as a group, the receptors represent potential drug targets, to treat, for example, type II diabetes by mimicking food intake by potent agonists or positive allosteric modulators. The ligand-receptor interactions of the promiscuous receptors of organic nutrients thus remain an interesting subject of emerging functional importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petrine Wellendorph
- UNIK centre for life-style diseases, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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27
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Ma J, Bellon M, Wishart JM, Young R, Blackshaw LA, Jones KL, Horowitz M, Rayner CK. Effect of the artificial sweetener, sucralose, on gastric emptying and incretin hormone release in healthy subjects. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2009; 296:G735-9. [PMID: 19221011 PMCID: PMC2670679 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.90708.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The incretin hormones, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), play an important role in glucose homeostasis in both health and diabetes. In mice, sucralose, an artificial sweetener, stimulates GLP-1 release via sweet taste receptors on enteroendocrine cells. We studied blood glucose, plasma levels of insulin, GLP-1, and GIP, and gastric emptying (by a breath test) in 7 healthy humans after intragastric infusions of 1) 50 g sucrose in water to a total volume of 500 ml (approximately 290 mosmol/l), 2) 80 mg sucralose in 500 ml normal saline (approximately 300 mosmol/l, 0.4 mM sucralose), 3) 800 mg sucralose in 500 ml normal saline (approximately 300 mosmol/l, 4 mM sucralose), and 4) 500 ml normal saline (approximately 300 mosmol/l), all labeled with 150 mg 13C-acetate. Blood glucose increased only in response to sucrose (P<0.05). GLP-1, GIP, and insulin also increased after sucrose (P=0.0001) but not after either load of sucralose or saline. Gastric emptying of sucrose was slower than that of saline (t50: 87.4+/-4.1 min vs. 74.7+/-3.2 min, P<0.005), whereas there were no differences in t50 between sucralose 0.4 mM (73.7+/-3.1 min) or 4 mM (76.7+/-3.1 min) and saline. We conclude that sucralose, delivered by intragastric infusion, does not stimulate insulin, GLP-1, or GIP release or slow gastric emptying in healthy humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ma
- University of Adelaide, Discipline of Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terr., Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
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28
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Quantitative assessment of TRPM5-dependent oral aversiveness of pharmaceuticals using a mouse brief-access taste aversion assay. Behav Pharmacol 2008; 19:673-82. [DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0b013e3283123cd6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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29
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Zhou LH, Liu XM, Feng XH, Han LO, Liu GD. Expression of alpha-gustducin in the circumvallate papillae of taste buds of diabetic rats. Acta Histochem 2008; 111:145-9. [PMID: 18824257 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2008.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2008] [Revised: 05/14/2008] [Accepted: 05/21/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Taste impairment is a complication of Diabetes mellitus and some studies have shown this taste disorder in diabetes. Diabetes can decrease the ability of individuals to detect and recognize sweet, salty and bitter tastes. alpha-Gustducin is a transducin-like G-protein selectively expressed in 20 - 30% of taste receptor cells, which has been shown to be involved in bitter, sweet and umami taste responses. The present study was performed to explore the protein and mRNA expression of alpha-gustducin in the taste buds of diabetic and control rat circumvallate papillae. Our results showed that the positive expression of alpha-gustducin in diabetic rat taste bud cells is higher than that in normal controls as shown by both immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. There may be some variant of bitter, sweet or umami taste transduction during diabetes and that taste transduction variant may be one cause of diabetic taste impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-hong Zhou
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Clinical Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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30
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Blednov YA, Walker D, Martinez M, Levine M, Damak S, Margolskee RF. Perception of sweet taste is important for voluntary alcohol consumption in mice. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2008; 7:1-13. [PMID: 17376151 PMCID: PMC4408608 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2007.00309.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
To directly evaluate the association between taste perception and alcohol intake, we used three different mutant mice, each lacking a gene expressed in taste buds and critical to taste transduction: alpha-gustducin (Gnat3), Tas1r3 or Trpm5. Null mutant mice lacking any of these three genes showed lower preference score for alcohol and consumed less alcohol in a two-bottle choice test, as compared with wild-type littermates. These null mice also showed lower preference score for saccharin solutions than did wild-type littermates. In contrast, avoidance of quinine solutions was less in Gnat3 or Trpm5 knockout mice than in wild-type mice, whereas Tas1r3 null mice were not different from wild type in their response to quinine solutions. There were no differences in null vs. wild-type mice in their consumption of sodium chloride solutions. To determine the cause for reduction of ethanol intake, we studied other ethanol-induced behaviors known to be related to alcohol consumption. There were no differences between null and wild-type mice in ethanol-induced loss of righting reflex, severity of acute ethanol withdrawal or conditioned place preference for ethanol. Weaker conditioned taste aversion (CTA) to alcohol in null mice may have been caused by weaker rewarding value of the conditioned stimulus (saccharin). When saccharin was replaced by sodium chloride, no differences in CTA to alcohol between knockout and wild-type mice were seen. Thus, deletion of any one of three different genes involved in detection of sweet taste leads to a substantial reduction of alcohol intake without any changes in pharmacological actions of ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y A Blednov
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, 1 University Station A4800, Austin, TX 78712-0159, USA.
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31
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Glendinning JI, Yiin YM, Ackroff K, Sclafani A. Intragastric infusion of denatonium conditions flavor aversions and delays gastric emptying in rodents. Physiol Behav 2007; 93:757-65. [PMID: 18174110 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2007] [Revised: 11/10/2007] [Accepted: 11/20/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Because most naturally occurring toxins taste bitter to humans, any mechanism that reduces the rate at which bitter substances are ingested and digested should be adaptive. Based on the recent discovery of T2R bitter taste receptors in the gastrointestinal tract of rodents, we asked whether intragastric (IG) infusion of denatonium (a ligand for T2R receptors) would condition a flavor aversion and/or delay gastric emptying. Four experiments tested for post-oral responses to denatonium in rodents. First, Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to associate intake of a flavored solution (the CS+) with IG denatonium infusions, and intake of a different-flavored solution (the CS-) with IG water infusions during 30 min/day sessions. The rats acquired an aversion to the CS+ flavor when it was paired with IG infusions of 10 mM (but not 2.5 mM) denatonium. Intragastric infusions of 10 mM denatonium also delayed gastric emptying of food in the same rats. Second, we asked how long it took for rats to suppress their drinking while being infused IG with 10 mM denatonium. Rats drinking a palatable solution paired with IG infusions of 10 mM denatonium suppressed their licking within 6 min, as compared to rats infused IG with water. Third, we trained C57BL/6J (B6) mice 24 h/day to associate a CS+ flavor paired with IG infusions of 12 mM denatonium (diluted to 6 mM by orally consumed CS+). Like rats, the mice acquired a robust aversion to the CS+ flavor when it was paired with IG infusions of denatonium. A final experiment assessed the potential toxicity of denatonium. To this end, we gave B6 mice a 6 mM denatonium solution as their only source of water for 3 weeks. The mice grew normally and did not display any clinical signs of denatonium toxicosis. This study provides the first evidence that rodents respond to the presence of "bitter" substances in their gastrointestinal tract by generating both behavioral and physiological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- John I Glendinning
- Department of Biological Sciences, Barnard College, Columbia University, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA.
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Rozengurt E, Sternini C. Taste receptor signaling in the mammalian gut. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2007; 7:557-62. [PMID: 18024184 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2007.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2007] [Revised: 10/01/2007] [Accepted: 10/05/2007] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Molecular sensing by gastrointestinal (GI) cells plays a crucial role in the control of multiple fundamental functions including digestion, regulation of caloric intake, pancreatic insulin secretion, and metabolism, as well as protection from ingested harmful drugs and toxins. These processes are likely to be mediated by the initiation of humoral and/or neural pathways through the activation of endocrine cells. However, the initial recognition events and mechanism(s) involved are still largely unknown. This article reviews the current evidence that the chemosensory machinery discovered in specialized neuroepithelial taste receptor cells of the lingual epithelium is operational in enteroendocrine open GI cells that sense the chemical composition of the luminal contents of the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Rozengurt
- Division of Digestive Diseases and CURE, Digestive Diseases Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 900 Veteran Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Sclafani A, Zukerman S, Glendinning JI, Margolskee RF. Fat and carbohydrate preferences in mice: the contribution of alpha-gustducin and Trpm5 taste-signaling proteins. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2007; 293:R1504-13. [PMID: 17652359 PMCID: PMC2375390 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00364.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trpm5 and alpha-gustducin are key to the transduction of tastes of sugars, amino acids, and bitter compounds. This study investigated the role of these signaling proteins in the preference for fat, starch, and starch-derived polysaccharides (Polycose), using Trpm5 knockout (Trpm5 KO) and alpha-gustducin knockout (Gust KO) mice. In initial two-bottle tests (24 h/day), Trpm5 KO mice showed no preference for soybean oil emulsions (0.313-2.5%), Polycose solutions (0.5-4%), or starch suspensions (0.5-4%). Gust KO mice displayed an attenuated preference for Polycose, but their preferences for soybean oil and starch were comparable to those of C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice. Gust KO mice preferred starch to Polycose, whereas WT mice had the opposite preference. After extensive experience with soybean oil emulsions (Intralipid) and Polycose solutions, the Trpm5 KO mice developed preferences comparable to the WT mice, although their absolute intakes remained suppressed. Similarly, Gust KO mice developed a strong Polycose preference with experience, but they continued to consume less than the WT mice. These results implicate alpha-gustducin and Trpm5 as mediators of polysaccharide taste and Trpm5 in fat taste. The disruption in Polycose, but not starch, preference in Gust KO mice indicates that distinct sensory signaling pathways mediate the response to these carbohydrates. The experience-induced rescue of fat and Polycose preferences in the KO mice likely reflects the action of a postoral-conditioning mechanism, which functions in the absence of alpha-gustducin and Trpm5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Sclafani
- Dept. of Psychology, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA.
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Jang HJ, Kokrashvili Z, Theodorakis MJ, Carlson OD, Kim BJ, Zhou J, Kim HH, Xu X, Chan SL, Juhaszova M, Bernier M, Mosinger B, Margolskee RF, Egan JM. Gut-expressed gustducin and taste receptors regulate secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007; 104:15069-74. [PMID: 17724330 PMCID: PMC1986614 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0706890104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 742] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), released from gut endocrine L cells in response to glucose, regulates appetite, insulin secretion, and gut motility. How glucose given orally, but not systemically, induces GLP-1 secretion is unknown. We show that human duodenal L cells express sweet taste receptors, the taste G protein gustducin, and several other taste transduction elements. Mouse intestinal L cells also express alpha-gustducin. Ingestion of glucose by alpha-gustducin null mice revealed deficiencies in secretion of GLP-1 and the regulation of plasma insulin and glucose. Isolated small bowel and intestinal villi from alpha-gustducin null mice showed markedly defective GLP-1 secretion in response to glucose. The human L cell line NCI-H716 expresses alpha-gustducin, taste receptors, and several other taste signaling elements. GLP-1 release from NCI-H716 cells was promoted by sugars and the noncaloric sweetener sucralose, and blocked by the sweet receptor antagonist lactisole or siRNA for alpha-gustducin. We conclude that L cells of the gut "taste" glucose through the same mechanisms used by taste cells of the tongue. Modulating GLP-1 secretion in gut "taste cells" may provide an important treatment for obesity, diabetes and abnormal gut motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeung-Jin Jang
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
| | - Zaza Kokrashvili
- Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1425 Madison Avenue, Box 1065, New York, NY 10029
| | - Michael J. Theodorakis
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
| | - Olga D. Carlson
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
| | - Byung-Joon Kim
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
| | - Jie Zhou
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
| | - Hyeon Ho Kim
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
| | - Xiangru Xu
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
| | - Sic L. Chan
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
| | - Magdalena Juhaszova
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
| | - Michel Bernier
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
| | - Bedrich Mosinger
- Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1425 Madison Avenue, Box 1065, New York, NY 10029
| | - Robert F. Margolskee
- Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1425 Madison Avenue, Box 1065, New York, NY 10029
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
| | - Josephine M. Egan
- *National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224; and
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Sutherland K, Young RL, Cooper NJ, Horowitz M, Blackshaw LA. Phenotypic characterization of taste cells of the mouse small intestine. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2007; 292:G1420-8. [PMID: 17290008 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00504.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient-evoked gastrointestinal reflexes are likely initiated by specialized epithelial cells located in the small intestine that detect luminal stimuli and release mediators that activate vagal endings. The G-protein alpha-gustducin, a key signal molecule in lingual taste detection, has been identified in mouse small intestine, where it may also subserve nutrient detection; however, the phenotype of alpha-gustducin cells is unknown. Immunohistochemistry was performed throughout the mouse small intestine for alpha-gustducin, enteroendocrine cell markers 5-HT and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and brush cell markers neuronal nitric oxide synthase and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1) lectin binding, singly, and in combination. alpha-Gustducin was expressed in solitary epithelial cells of the mid to upper villus, which were distributed in a regional manner with most occurring within the midjejunum. Here, 27% of alpha-gustducin cells colabeled for 5-HT and 15% for GLP-1; 57% of alpha-gustducin cells colabeled UEA-1, with no triple labeling. alpha-Gustducin cells that colabeled for 5-HT or GLP-1 were of distinct morphology and exhibited a different alpha-gustducin immunolabeling pattern to those colabeled with UEA-1. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase was absent from intestinal epithelium despite strong labeling in the myenteric plexus. We conclude that subsets of enteroendocrine cells in the midjejunum and brush cells (more generally distributed) are equipped to utilize alpha-gustducin signaling in mice. Intestinal taste modalities may be signaled by these enteroendocrine cells via the release of 5-HT, GLP-1, or coexpressed mediators or by brush cells via a nonnitrergic mediator in distinct regions of the intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Sutherland
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia
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Stone LM, Barrows J, Finger TE, Kinnamon SC. Expression of T1Rs and gustducin in palatal taste buds of mice. Chem Senses 2007; 32:255-62. [PMID: 17229761 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjl053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The palatal region of the oral cavity in rodents houses 100-300 taste buds and is particularly sensitive to sweet and umami compounds; yet, few studies have examined the expression patterns of transduction-related molecules in this taste field. We investigated the interrelationships between members of the T1R family and between each T1R and gustducin in palatal taste buds. Similar to lingual taste buds, T1R1 and T1R2 are generally expressed in separate palatal taste cells. In contrast to lingual taste buds, however, T1R2 and T1R3-positive palatal taste cells almost always coexpress gustducin, suggesting that sweet taste transduction in the palate is almost entirely dependent on gustducin. T1R1-positive palate taste cells coexpress gustducin about half the time, suggesting that other G proteins may contribute to the transduction of umami stimuli in this taste field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie M Stone
- Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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Rozengurt N, Wu SV, Chen MC, Huang C, Sternini C, Rozengurt E. Colocalization of the alpha-subunit of gustducin with PYY and GLP-1 in L cells of human colon. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2006; 291:G792-802. [PMID: 16728727 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00074.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
In view of the importance of molecular sensing in the function of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, we assessed whether signal transduction proteins that mediate taste signaling are expressed in cells of the human gut. Here, we demonstrated that the alpha-subunit of the taste-specific G protein gustducin (Galpha(gust)) is expressed prominently in cells of the human colon that also contain chromogranin A, an established marker of endocrine cells. Double-labeling immunofluorescence and staining of serial sections demonstrated that Galpha(gust) localized to enteroendocrine L cells that express peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide-1 in the human colonic mucosa. We also found expression of transcripts encoding human type 2 receptor (hT2R) family members, hT1R3, and Galpha(gust) in the human colon and in the human intestinal endocrine cell lines (HuTu-80 and NCI-H716 cells). Stimulation of HuTu-80 or NCI-H716 cells with the bitter-tasting compound phenylthiocarbamide, which binds hT2R38, induced a rapid increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in these cells. The identification of Galpha(gust) and chemosensory receptors that perceive chemical components of ingested substances, including drugs and toxins, in open enteroendocrine L cells has important implications for understanding molecular sensing in the human GI tract and for developing novel therapeutic compounds that modify the function of these receptors in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Rozengurt
- Department of Pathology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, 900 Veteran Ave., Warren Hall Rm. 11-115, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1786, USA.
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Johanningsmeiner SD, McFeeters RF, Drake M. A Hypothesis for the Chemical Basis for Perception of Sour Taste. J Food Sci 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2005.tb07111.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Chen MC, Wu SV, Reeve JR, Rozengurt E. Bitter stimuli induce Ca2+ signaling and CCK release in enteroendocrine STC-1 cells: role of L-type voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2006; 291:C726-39. [PMID: 16707556 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00003.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated the expression of bitter taste receptors of the type 2 family (T2R) and the alpha-subunits of the G protein gustducin (Galpha(gust)) in the rodent gastrointestinal (GI) tract and in GI endocrine cells. In this study, we characterized mechanisms of Ca(2+) fluxes induced by two distinct T2R ligands: denatonium benzoate (DB) and phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), in mouse enteroendocrine cell line STC-1. Both DB and PTC induced a marked increase in intracellular [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](i)) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Chelating extracellular Ca(2+) with EGTA blocked the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) induced by either DB or PTC but, in contrast, did not prevent the effect induced by bombesin. Thapsigargin blocked the transient increase in [Ca(2+)](i) induced by bombesin, but did not attenuate the [Ca(2+)](i) increase elicited by DB or PTC. These results indicate that Ca(2+) influx mediates the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) induced by DB and PTC in STC-1 cells. Preincubation with the L-type voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channel (L-type VSCC) blockers nitrendipine or diltiazem for 30 min inhibited the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) elicited by DB or PTC. Furthermore, exposure to the L-type VSCCs opener BAY K 8644 potentiated the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) induced by DB and PTC. Stimulation with DB also induced a marked increase in the release of cholecystokinin from STC-1 cells, an effect also abrogated by prior exposure to EGTA or L-type VSCC blockers. Collectively, our results demonstrate that bitter tastants increase [Ca(2+)](i) and cholecystokinin release through Ca(2+) influx mediated by the opening of L-type VSCCs in enteroendocrine STC-1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica C Chen
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, CURE, Digestive Diseases Research Center and Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles 90095-1786, USA
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40
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Damak S, Rong M, Yasumatsu K, Kokrashvili Z, Pérez CA, Shigemura N, Yoshida R, Mosinger B, Glendinning JI, Ninomiya Y, Margolskee RF. Trpm5 null mice respond to bitter, sweet, and umami compounds. Chem Senses 2006; 31:253-64. [PMID: 16436689 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjj027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 257] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Trpm5 is a calcium-activated cation channel expressed selectively in taste receptor cells. A previous study reported that mice with an internal deletion of Trpm5, lacking exons 15-19 encoding transmembrane segments 1-5, showed no taste-mediated responses to bitter, sweet, and umami compounds. We independently generated knockout mice null for Trpm5 protein expression due to deletion of Trpm5's promoter region and exons 1-4 (including the translation start site). We examined the taste-mediated responses of Trpm5 null mice and wild-type (WT) mice using three procedures: gustatory nerve recording [chorda tympani (CT) and glossopharyngeal (NG) nerves], initial lick responses, and 24-h two-bottle preference tests. With bitter compounds, the Trpm5 null mice showed reduced, but not abolished, avoidance (as indicated by licking responses and preference ratios higher than those of WT), a normal CT response, and a greatly diminished NG response. With sweet compounds, Trpm5 null mice showed no licking response, a diminished preference ratio, and absent or greatly reduced nerve responses. With umami compounds, Trpm5 null mice showed no licking response, a diminished preference ratio, a normal NG response, and a greatly diminished CT response. Our results demonstrate that the consequences of eliminating Trmp5 expression vary depending upon the taste quality and the lingual taste field examined. Thus, while Trpm5 is an important factor in many taste responses, its absence does not eliminate all taste responses. We conclude that Trpm5-dependent and Trpm5-independent pathways underlie bitter, sweet, and umami tastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Damak
- Department of Neuroscience, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Abstract
Humans show substantial differences in taste sensitivity to many different substances. Some of this variation is known to be genetic in origin, and many other inter-individual differences are likely to be partially or wholly determined by genetic mechanisms. Recent advances in the understanding of taste at the molecular level have provided candidate genes that can be evaluated for contributions to phenotypic differences in taste abilities. This approach has provided an understanding of variation in the ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), and has resolved long-standing controversies about the genetics of this classic human genetic trait. Significant coding sequence variation exists in taste receptor genes, which suggests that PTC tasting may indicate more general taste sensory variation. However, many aspects of taste perception remain poorly characterized. Better understanding of the molecular components of salty and sour tastes is still needed, as is a more complete picture of second messenger and downstream signaling mechanisms for all taste modalities. More general studies of linkage and association between genetic markers and taste phenotypes may reveal genes encoding proteins that were previously unsuspected to be involved in this sensory process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Drayna
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA.
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Abstract
Heterotrimeric G proteins are key players in transmembrane signaling by coupling a huge variety of receptors to channel proteins, enzymes, and other effector molecules. Multiple subforms of G proteins together with receptors, effectors, and various regulatory proteins represent the components of a highly versatile signal transduction system. G protein-mediated signaling is employed by virtually all cells in the mammalian organism and is centrally involved in diverse physiological functions such as perception of sensory information, modulation of synaptic transmission, hormone release and actions, regulation of cell contraction and migration, or cell growth and differentiation. In this review, some of the functions of heterotrimeric G proteins in defined cells and tissues are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Wettschureck
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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43
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Ozeck M, Brust P, Xu H, Servant G. Receptors for bitter, sweet and umami taste couple to inhibitory G protein signaling pathways. Eur J Pharmacol 2005; 489:139-49. [PMID: 15087236 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2003] [Revised: 02/16/2004] [Accepted: 03/02/2004] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Taste receptors are thought to couple to the G protein Galpha-gustducin to initiate signal transduction cascades leading to taste perception. To further characterize the G protein-coupling selectivity of these receptors, we expressed them in HEK293 cells and monitored the modulation of different signaling pathways upon stimulation. We found that the bitter compound cycloheximide induces phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases1 and 2 (ERK 1/2) and inhibits cAMP accumulation in HEK293 cells expressing the mouse bitter T2R(5) receptor. These effects are totally abolished upon treatment with pertussis toxin. On the other hand, sweeteners and monosodium glutamate induce phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and inhibit cAMP accumulation in HEK293 cells expressing the human sweet T1R(2)/T1R(3) receptor and the human umami T1R(1)/T1R(3) receptor, respectively. The effects of these taste modalities are also prevented by treatment with pertussis toxin. Collectively, our results show that taste receptors can functionally couple to Galpha(i/o) proteins to transmit intracellular signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Ozeck
- Senomyx, Inc., 11099 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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He W, Yasumatsu K, Varadarajan V, Yamada A, Lem J, Ninomiya Y, Margolskee RF, Damak S. Umami taste responses are mediated by alpha-transducin and alpha-gustducin. J Neurosci 2005; 24:7674-80. [PMID: 15342734 PMCID: PMC6729622 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2441-04.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The sense of taste comprises at least five distinct qualities: sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and umami, the taste of glutamate. For bitter, sweet, and umami compounds, taste signaling is initiated by binding of tastants to G-protein-coupled receptors in specialized epithelial cells located in the taste buds, leading to the activation of signal transduction cascades. Alpha-gustducin, a taste cell-expressed G-protein alpha subunit closely related to the alpha-transducins, is a key mediator of sweet and bitter tastes. Alpha-gustducin knock-out (KO) mice have greatly diminished, but not entirely abolished, responses to many bitter and sweet compounds. We set out to determine whether alpha-gustducin also mediates umami taste and whether rod alpha-transducin (alpha(t-rod)), which is also expressed in taste receptor cells, plays a role in any of the taste responses that remain in alpha-gustducin KO mice. Behavioral tests and taste nerve recordings of single and double KO mice lacking alpha-gustducin and/or alpha(t-rod) confirmed the involvement of alpha-gustducin in bitter (quinine and denatonium) and sweet (sucrose and SC45647) taste and demonstrated the involvement of alpha-gustducin in umami [monosodium glutamate (MSG), monopotassium glutamate (MPG), and inosine monophosphate (IMP)] taste as well. We found that alpha(t-rod) played no role in taste responses to the salty, bitter, and sweet compounds tested or to IMP but was involved in the umami taste of MSG and MPG. Umami detection involving alpha-gustducin and alpha(t-rod) occurs in anteriorly placed taste buds, however taste cells at the back of the tongue respond to umami compounds independently of these two G-protein subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei He
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA
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45
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Glendinning JI, Bloom LD, Onishi M, Zheng KH, Damak S, Margolskee RF, Spector AC. Contribution of alpha-gustducin to taste-guided licking responses of mice. Chem Senses 2005; 30:299-316. [PMID: 15800219 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bji025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the necessity of alpha-gustducin, a G protein alpha-subunit expressed in taste cells, to taste-mediated licking responses of mice to sapid stimuli. To this end, we measured licking responses of alpha-gustducin knock-out (Gus-/-) mice and heterozygotic littermate controls (Gus+/-) to a variety of 'bitter', 'umami', 'sweet', 'salty' and 'sour' taste stimuli. All previous studies of how Gus-/- mice ingest taste stimuli have used long-term (i.e. 48 h) preference tests, which may be confounded by post-ingestive and/or experiential effects of the taste stimuli. We minimized these confounds by using a brief-access taste test, which quantifies immediate lick responses to extremely small volumes of sapid solutions. We found that deleting alpha-gustducin (i) dramatically reduced the aversiveness of a diverse range of 'bitter' taste stimuli; (ii) moderately decreased appetitive licking to low and intermediate concentrations of an 'umami' taste stimulus (monosodium glutamate in the presence of 100 microM amiloride), but virtually eliminated the normal aversion to high concentrations of the same taste stimulus; (iii) slightly decreased appetitive licking to 'sweet' taste stimuli; and (iv) modestly reduced the aversiveness of high, but not low or intermediate, concentrations of NaCl. There was no significant effect of deleting alpha-gustducin on licking responses to NH4Cl or HCl.
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Affiliation(s)
- John I Glendinning
- Department of Biological Science, Barnard College, Columbia University, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA.
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Abstract
The G-protein-mediated signaling system has evolved as one of the most widely used transmembrane signaling mechanisms in eukaryotic organisms. Mammalian cells express many G-protein-coupled receptors as well as several types of heterotrimeric G-proteins and effectors. This review focuses on recent data from studies in mutant mice, which have elucidated some of the roles of G-protein-mediated signaling in physiology and pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Wettschureck
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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47
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Abstract
Many bitter stimuli are believed to bind to specific G-protein-coupled membrane receptors on taste cells. Despite the compelling evidence for its pivotal role in bitter taste sensation, a direct involvement of the G-protein subunit alpha-gustducin in bitter taste transduction in taste cells has not been demonstrated in situ at the cellular level. We recorded activation of taste cells by bitter stimuli using Ca2+ imaging in lingual slices and examined alpha-gustducin immunoreactivity in the same cells. In mice vallate papillae, many, but not all, bitter-responsive cells expressed alpha-gustducin. In agreement with this correlation, the incidence of cells responding to bitter stimuli was reduced by 70% in mutant mice lacking alpha-gustducin. Nevertheless, some taste cells lacking alpha-gustducin responded to bitter stimuli, suggesting that other G-protein alpha subunits are involved. We found that the G-protein alpha subunit Galpha(i2) is present in most bitter-responsive cells and thus may also play a role in bitter taste transduction. The reduced behavioral sensitivity to bitter stimuli in alpha-gustducin knock-out mice thus appears to be the consequence of a reduced number of bitter-activated taste cells, as well as reduced sensitivity.
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48
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Baryshnikov SG, Rogachevskaja OA, Kolesnikov SS. Calcium signaling mediated by P2Y receptors in mouse taste cells. J Neurophysiol 2003; 90:3283-94. [PMID: 12878712 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00312.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence implicates a number of neuroactive substances and their receptors in mediating complex cell-to-cell communications in the taste bud. Recently, we found that ATP, a ubiquitous neurotransmitter/neuromodulator, mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ in taste cells by activating P2Y receptors. Here, P2Y receptor-cellular response coupling was characterized in detail using single cell ratio photometry and the inhibitory analysis. The sequence of underlying events was shown to include ATP-dependent activation of PLC, IP3 production, and IP3 receptor-mediated Ca2+ release followed by Ca2+ influx. Data obtained favor SOC channels rather than receptor-operated channels as a pathway for Ca2+ influx that accompanies Ca2+ release. Intracellular Ca2+ mobilized by ATP is apparently extruded by the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase, while a contribution of the Na+/Ca2+ exchange and other mechanisms of Ca2+ clearance is negligible. Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation is likely to control a gain of the phosphoinositide cascade involved in ATP transduction. ATP-responsive taste cells are abundant in circumvallate, foliate, and fungiform papillae. Taken together, our observations point to a putative role for ATP as a neurotransmitter operative in the taste bud.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey G Baryshnikov
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
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49
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Caicedo A, Pereira E, Margolskee RF, Roper SD. Role of the G-protein subunit alpha-gustducin in taste cell responses to bitter stimuli. J Neurosci 2003; 23:9947-52. [PMID: 14586025 PMCID: PMC6740876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2003] [Revised: 09/03/2003] [Accepted: 09/08/2003] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Many bitter stimuli are believed to bind to specific G-protein-coupled membrane receptors on taste cells. Despite the compelling evidence for its pivotal role in bitter taste sensation, a direct involvement of the G-protein subunit alpha-gustducin in bitter taste transduction in taste cells has not been demonstrated in situ at the cellular level. We recorded activation of taste cells by bitter stimuli using Ca2+ imaging in lingual slices and examined alpha-gustducin immunoreactivity in the same cells. In mice vallate papillae, many, but not all, bitter-responsive cells expressed alpha-gustducin. In agreement with this correlation, the incidence of cells responding to bitter stimuli was reduced by 70% in mutant mice lacking alpha-gustducin. Nevertheless, some taste cells lacking alpha-gustducin responded to bitter stimuli, suggesting that other G-protein alpha subunits are involved. We found that the G-protein alpha subunit Galpha(i2) is present in most bitter-responsive cells and thus may also play a role in bitter taste transduction. The reduced behavioral sensitivity to bitter stimuli in alpha-gustducin knock-out mice thus appears to be the consequence of a reduced number of bitter-activated taste cells, as well as reduced sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Caicedo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Program in Neuroscience, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
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50
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Offermanns S. G-proteins as transducers in transmembrane signalling. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2003; 83:101-30. [PMID: 12865075 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6107(03)00052-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The G-protein-mediated signalling system has evolved as one of the most widely used transmembrane signalling mechanisms in mammalian organisms. All mammalian cells express G-protein-coupled receptors as well as several types of heterotrimeric G-proteins and effectors. G-protein-mediated signalling is involved in many physiological and pathological processes. This review summarizes some general aspects of G-protein-mediated signalling and focusses on recent data especially from studies in mutant mice which have elucidated some of the cellular and biological functions of heterotrimeric G-prtoteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Offermanns
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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