Azen E A, Hellekant G, Sabatini L M, Warner T F
Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
J Dent Res. 1990 Nov;69(11):1724-30. doi: 10.1177/00220345900690110401.
A search was made for expression of genes for proline-rich proteins (PRPs) and other salivary-type proteins, including statherin and histatins, in taste-bud tissues of mice and primates because of previous genetic findings in mice (Azen et al., 1986) that Prp and taste genes for certain bitter substances are either the same or closely linked. Taste-bud tissues and other tissues were tested for specific mRNAs with labeled DNA probes by Northern blotting and in situ hybridization. It was found that PRP mRNAs were present in von Ebner's glands of mice and macaques, and that there was a much greater degree of PRP mRNA induction in mouse parotid (16-fold) than in von Ebner's gland (two-fold) after in vivo isoproterenol stimulation. This difference may be due, in part, to differences in autonomic nerve innervation. Statherin and histatin mRNAs were found in macaque taste-bud tissues containing von Ebner's gland, and statherin protein was found in human von Ebner's gland by immunohistochemistry. The finding of PRP gene expression in von Ebner's gland, whose secretions have been suggested to play a role in taste stimulation, adds further support to a possible function of PRPs in bitter tasting. The possible functions of statherin and histatins in von Ebner's gland secretions may be related to statherin's regulation of salivary calcium and histatins' antibacterial and antifungal properties.
由于之前在小鼠中的遗传学研究发现（阿曾等人，1986年）脯氨酸丰富蛋白（PRPs）的基因与某些苦味物质的味觉基因相同或紧密连锁，因此对小鼠和灵长类动物味蕾组织中PRPs基因以及其他唾液型蛋白（包括富组蛋白和组蛋白）的表达进行了研究。通过Northern印迹法和原位杂交技术，用标记的DNA探针检测味蕾组织和其他组织中的特异性mRNA。结果发现，PRP mRNA存在于小鼠和猕猴的味腺中，并且在体内异丙肾上腺素刺激后，小鼠腮腺中PRP mRNA的诱导程度（16倍）比味腺（2倍）高得多。这种差异可能部分归因于自主神经支配的差异。在含有味腺的猕猴味蕾组织中发现了富组蛋白和组蛋白mRNA，通过免疫组织化学在人味腺中发现了富组蛋白蛋白。味腺分泌物被认为在味觉刺激中起作用，而在味腺中发现PRP基因表达，这进一步支持了PRPs在苦味感知中可能具有的功能。富组蛋白和组蛋白在味腺分泌物中的可能功能可能与富组蛋白对唾液钙的调节以及组蛋白的抗菌和抗真菌特性有关。
