# Signaling in Taste Cells

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $326,188

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Taste buds contain a diversity of co-mingled cell types that perform distinct functions. Although the
chemosensory cells have been studied quite extensively, we have limited understanding of cellular
interactions within the bud including how taste cells establish and maintain specific innervation
throughout life. This open question guides the design of experiments to continue our program of
integrated molecular, cellular and functional approaches to the taste system.
Cell types II and III are chemosensory, with each cell prominently sensitive to taste stimuli of one sub-
modality (e.g.sweet). Taste bud cells die off and are replaced throughout life, while the nerve fibers that
interdigitate between taste cells are relatively stable. How is appropriate connectivity orchestrated? For
instance, individual Type II cells of the taste bud typically express one type of taste receptor (e.g.
T1R1+T1R3) and respond functionally to ligands of one taste quality (e.g. “sweet”). Afferent neurons
also often respond best to one taste quality. Thus, “sweet cells” are inferred to transmit signals
preferentially to “sweet fibers”. Yet, throughout life, Type II cells are replaced with a half-life of 8 days.
How do nerve fibers of a particular identity recognize and connect with newly formed taste bud cells of
the corresponding chemosensitivity? Several families of synaptic recognition and adhesion proteins are
currently under investigation that guide synaptogenesis in the brain during development and then
stabilize synapses in the adult. Our preliminary RNAseq data have yielded candidate pre- and post-
synaptic pairs of proteins in taste cells and taste neurons. We will conduct a detailed exploration of the
proteins that mediate the selective pairing of taste cells and nerves.
Second, there is growing appreciation that in the brain, glia are intimately associated with synapses,
both anatomically and functionally. Taste buds have their own “glia”, the Type I cells that ensheath
chemosensory cells. Although these cells are the most numerous, we do not know if they are passive
supporting cells or active participants in producing the sensory output of the bud. Do chemosensory cell,
afferent fibers and Type I cells cooperate functionally in the manner of central “tripartite synapses”?
Using a genetically encoded Calcium indicator, we will test whether Type I cells are able to sense the
activation of the chemosensory cells that they ensheath, as perisynaptic glia are known to do. We will
test if Type I cells promote the formation of new synapses between chemosensory cells and afferent
fibers as synaptic astrocytes are known to do.
This application employs state of the art transcriptomic analyses and high resolution confocal functional
imaging to examine how taste cells communicate with afferent neurons throughout life, and how this
communication may be modulated and shaped under different physiological conditions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9948621
- **Project number:** 5R01DC006308-15
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Nirupa Chaudhari
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $326,188
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2005-04-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9948621

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9948621, Signaling in Taste Cells (5R01DC006308-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9948621. Licensed CC0.

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