Cell differentiation of taste bud and neuronal network formation for salt and sour taste

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24592774
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Morphological basic dentistry
• Research Institution: Kyushu Dental College
• Principal Investigator: SETA YUJI 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 教授(移行) (90291616)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TOYOSHIMA Kuniaki 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 教授 (10112559) ; TOYONO Takashi 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 助教 (10311929) ; ONO Kentaro 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 准教授 (40316154) ; KATAOKA Shinji 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 助教 (80364149)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 味蕾 / Mash1 / 分化 / AADC / GAD67

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mash1 is expressed in subsets of neuronal precursors in both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. However, involvement of Mash1 in taste bud cell differentiation remained to be demonstrated. In the present study, to begin to understand the mechanisms that regulate taste bud cell differentiation, we have investigated the role of Mash1 in regulating taste bud cell differentiation using Mash1 KO mice. In Mash1 KO mice, AADC-IR cells are missing both in the Mash1 mutant circumvallate papilla epithelium and in the taste buds of soft palate. In Mash1 KO/GAD67-GFP mice, GFP-positive (GAD67 expression type III cell) cells are also missing in the taste buds of soft palate. On the other hand, Gustducin, a type II cell marker of taste bud, is expressed in soft palate taste bud in Mash1 mutant mice. These results suggest Mash1 play an important role for expression of AADC and GAD67 in type III cell in taste buds.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学