1991 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Electrophysiological Analysis of Taste Receptors on the Xenopus Oocyte Injected with Carp Taste Epithelial mRNA.
| Project/Area Number |
02454428
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Functional basic dentistry
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| Research Institution | Kagoshima University |
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Principal Investigator |
MARUI Takayuki Kagoshima Univ. Dent. Sch., Associate Professor, 歯学部, 助教授 (40076047)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KIHARA Hiroshi Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd., Biotechnol. Res. Lab., Vice-Director, バイオ研究所, 次長 (90041318)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1990 – 1991
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| Keywords | Amino Acid Receptor / Poly (A)^+ mRNA / Translation and Expression / Xenopus Oocyte / Taste / Electrophysiology |
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| Research Abstract |
Electrophysiological Analysis of Taste Receptors on the Xenopus Oocyte Injected with Carp Taste Epithelial mRNA.
Taste and smell are the two major modes by which vertebrates monitor their environmental solution and volitite components. They may function as molecular detection-transduction systems similar to those described for neurotransmitters and neuroactive chemicals. The Xenopus oocytes has been used extensively as an expression system to study, characterize and identify those receptors through microinjection of mRNA isolated into them. Their functional properties could be studied in ovo using electrophysiological techniques. Thus, the taste receptor system located in outer skin surface of the carp, Cyprinus carpio L., is chosen to study through the technique mentioned above. The ability of Xenopus oocytes microinjected with the carp taste epitherial mRNA was proved to express taste receptors for functional amino acids, although the expression of those was obtained in small amount of the oocytes ; 3 out 145 oocytes. Electrophysiological recordings from these injected oocytes demonstrate the expression of amino acid specific conductance changes, distinct and reproducible time-conductance profiles following stimulation with L-alanine or L-glutamate-Na both of which are potent taste stimuli in the intact carp. The responses exhibit molecular specificity and reproducibility. Repetitive stimulation at short intervals or prolonged stimulation results in adaptation reversible with full return of response capability. This defined in vitro system permits physiological, biochemical and milecular biological studies of taste receptors.
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