genome-wide analysis of gene expression in primate taste buds reveals links to diverse processes全基因组基因表达分析在灵长类动物的味蕾显示链接多样化的过程.pdfVIP

Genome-Wide Analysis of Gene Expression in Primate Taste Buds Reveals Links to Diverse Processes Peter Hevezi.¤a, Bryan D. Moyer.*, Min Lu, Na Gao, Evan White¤b, Fernando Echeverri, Dalia Kalabat, Hortensia Soto¤c, Bianca Laita, Cherry Li, Shaoyang Anthony Yeh, Mark Zoller, Albert Zlotnik¤a Senomyx, Inc, San Diego, California, United States of America Abstract Efforts to unravel the mechanisms underlying taste sensation (gustation) have largely focused on rodents. Here we present the first comprehensive characterization of gene expression in primate taste buds. Our findings reveal unique new insights into the biology of taste buds. We generated a taste bud gene expression database using laser capture microdissection (LCM) procured fungiform (FG) and circumvallate (CV) taste buds from primates. We also used LCM to collect the top and bottom portions of CV taste buds. Affymetrix genome wide arrays were used to analyze gene expression in all samples. Known taste receptors are preferentially expressed in the top portion of taste buds. Genes associated with the cell cycle and stem cells are preferentially expressed in the bottom portion of taste buds, suggesting that precursor cells are located there. Several chemokines including CXCL14 and CXCL8 are among the highest expressed genes in taste buds, indicating that immune system related processes are active in taste buds. Several genes expressed specifically in endocrine glands including growth hormone releasing hormone and its receptor are also strongly expressed in taste buds, suggesting a link between metabolism and taste. Cell type-specific expression of transcription factors and signaling molecules involved in cell fate, including KIT, reveals the taste bud as an active site of cell regeneration, differentiation, and development. IKBKAP, a gene mutated in familial dysauton