title: Colocalization of the alpha-subunit of gustducin with PYY and GLP-1 in L cells of human colon.
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.
authors.affiliation: 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. erozengurt@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rozengurt
authors.forename: S Vincent
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Monica C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sternini
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rozengurt
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D053379:Chromogranin A / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019894:Peptide YY / Q000378:metabolism*; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013859:Thiocarbamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D015293:Transducin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053379:Chromogranin A; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D013859:Thiocarbamates; C419359:phenylthiocarbamate; C026615:villin; D019894:Peptide YY; C075192:gustducin; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D004247:DNA; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D015293:Transducin; D002118:Calcium