The specific aims of the present research application are directed at identifying and characterizing taste cell- expressed proteins that enhance taste receptor function. In vivo, these proteins may play a role in optimizing taste cell function, or they could play a role in adaptation to external taste stimuli by regulating the number of functional receptors at the taste cell surface. Taste tissue will be analyzed by PCR techniques to screen for the presence of members of the RTF and Reep families, which may function to enhance taste receptor activity. Each RTF and Reep protein found in taste will be tested for its enhancing properties on tastant receptors using expressed taste receptors in heterologous cells. Any potential interactions of RTFs or Reeps with taste receptors will be confirmed by immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy. Finally, the mechanism of action of these enhancing proteins will be investigated using structural and functional studies. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32DC008240-01A1
Application #
7156689
Study Section
Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)
Program Officer
Sklare, Dan
Project Start
2006-03-31
Project End
2009-03-30
Budget Start
2006-03-31
Budget End
2007-03-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$45,976
Indirect Cost
Name
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
078861598
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10029
Ilegems, Erwin; Iwatsuki, Ken; Kokrashvili, Zaza et al. (2010) REEP2 enhances sweet receptor function by recruitment to lipid rafts. J Neurosci 30:13774-83