TASTE lab
Exploration of novel taste modalities
Taste buds are the primary organs responsible for taste sensation in mammals. The five basic taste modalities (sweet, umami, bitter, sour and salty tastes) have been scientifically proven, but in fact we can detect and distinguish more chemicals as tastants such as fatty acids, non-sodium salts, and polysaccharides et al. One of our aim is to reveal the existence of the sixth taste modality.
Identification of taste bud stem cells
As demonstrated in many other organs, Lgr5 (leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5) has been suggested the molecular markers for taste bud stem cells. However, our group discovered that Lgr5+ cells in circumvallate papilla is not the genuine stem cells for taste buds. Rather, they serve as progenitor cells for lingual keratinocytes. We are working to identify genuine molecular markers for taste bud stem cells in vivo.
Taste bud organoids
Recent organoid culture technique have enabled the expansion of the tissue-resident adult stem cells and their differentiation into mature differentiated cells in vitro. To understand taste stem cell physiology, we are using the 3D culture methods to generate taste bud organoids.
Taste receptors in brain
Taste receptors are not only expressed in taste buds, but also in other major organs. Among them, we focus on the expression of sweet taste receptor in the brain. Using the novel mouse strain expressing Cre recombinase under the control of endogenous promoter and enhancer of T1r2, that we have established , we notice that sweet taste receptors are expressed not only in hypothalamic neurons but also in other regions, and in cerebrovascular structures. Currently, we investigate the role T1R2 in central regulation for metabolism and BBB permeability.
