You have discovered a new neurotransmitter used by taste-bud sensory cells. You

Question

You have discovered a new neurotransmitter used by taste-bud sensory cells. You clone the cDNA of this gene, you express and purify its protein and you make monoclonal antibodies against it. You then use these antibodies to stain sensory taste-bud cells which produce this neurotransmitter by immunofluorescense staining. Based on this information please answer the following: Which part of the cell will stain with your monoclonal antibodies (to which part of the cells will your antibodies bind to?): A, B, C or D (or a combination of these?). Please explain your logic briefly. Assume that you observe staining only in one part of these cells. From what you have learned in MBG101, you think you know the mechanism by which these proteins are moved to this particular part of the cell. To test your hypothesis, you decide to knock-out a gene in taste-bud cells that you have growing in the laboratory. Which gene would you want to knock-out? Please explain your logic briefly.

Explanation / Answer

Ans-Antibodies bind to part A-the epithelial cells,taste pore.

The microvilli of taste cells contain taste receptors.When the taste cells are stimulated, they bind chemicals to their receptors, they depolarize.This depolarization is transmitted to the taste nerve fibers ultimately transmitted to the brain.Immunofluorescent antibody binds to the receptor which in this case is the microvilli in the tongue pore.

cell-to-cell communication in the taste bud happen through paracrine signals which target the cells nearby.Therefore,a knock out gene that can be used will be a participant of the cell signalling pathway.

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