The expression of alpha-gustducin, a G protein alpha subunit involved in bitter and sweet taste transduction, was investigated in chemosensory tissues of adult mice. By immunohistochemistry, alpha gustducin was absent in the olfactory neuroepithelium. Instead, alpha gustducin was expressed in a subset of bipolar cells in the proliferative zone of the vomeronasal neuroepithelium as well as in taste buds. Northern blot analysis confirmed the presence of alpha gustducin in isolated vomeronasal organs. Moreover, immunohisto- chemistry revealed the expression of alpha gustducin in scattered cells of the nasal respiratory epithelium. These results show for the first time that alpha gustducin is expressed in chemosensory tissue outside the alimentary tract, suggesting that common transduction mechanisms could be shared by apparently unrelated chemosensory tissues.

Alpha-gustducin expression in the vomeronasal organ of the mouse

MUCIGNAT, CARLA;CAVAGGIONI, ANDREA;
1999

Abstract

The expression of alpha-gustducin, a G protein alpha subunit involved in bitter and sweet taste transduction, was investigated in chemosensory tissues of adult mice. By immunohistochemistry, alpha gustducin was absent in the olfactory neuroepithelium. Instead, alpha gustducin was expressed in a subset of bipolar cells in the proliferative zone of the vomeronasal neuroepithelium as well as in taste buds. Northern blot analysis confirmed the presence of alpha gustducin in isolated vomeronasal organs. Moreover, immunohisto- chemistry revealed the expression of alpha gustducin in scattered cells of the nasal respiratory epithelium. These results show for the first time that alpha gustducin is expressed in chemosensory tissue outside the alimentary tract, suggesting that common transduction mechanisms could be shared by apparently unrelated chemosensory tissues.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/2464033
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