title: Taste receptor cells express voltage-dependent potassium channels in a cell age-specific manner.
abstract: Two voltage-dependent potassium channels, KCNQ1 and KCNH2, are expressed in the taste buds and were identified as strong candidates involved in the repolarization of taste receptor cells expressing phospholipase C-beta2 and TRPM5 (beta2/M5-TRCs). In cell type-specific expression, KCNQ1 was expressed in most taste bud cells, including beta2/M5-TRCs, whereas KCNH2 was expressed in a subset of beta2/M5-TRCs with no correlation with their taste modality, such as sweet or bitter taste reception. Expression of KCNH2 was restricted to young beta2/M5-TRCs. These results suggest that taste bud cells other than beta2/M5-TRCs are depolarized by some stimuli and also that beta2/M5-TRCs have cell age-dependent molecular mechanisms of repolarization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohmoto
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Misaka
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel / Q000378:metabolism; D054799:Phospholipase C beta; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D007527:Isoenzymes; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; C000606918:Kcnh2 protein, rat; C496911:Kcnq1 protein, rat; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D054799:Phospholipase C beta; C518038:Plcb2 protein, rat