TMC4 is a Novel Chloride Channel Involved in High-concentration Salt Taste Sensation

Overview

Journal J Physiol Sci

Specialty Physiology

Date 2021 Aug 25

PMID 34429071

Citations 11

Authors

Yoichi Kasahara

Masataka Narukawa

Yoshiro Ishimaru

Shinji Kanda

Chie Umatani

Yasunori Takayama

Makoto Tominaga

Yoshitaka Oka

Kaori Kondo

Takashi Kondo

Ayako Takeuchi

Takumi Misaka

Keiko Abe

Tomiko Asakura

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

"Salty taste" sensation is evoked when sodium and chloride ions are present together in the oral cavity. The presence of an epithelial cation channel that receives Na has previously been reported. However, no molecular entity involving Cl receptors has been elucidated. We report the strong expression of transmembrane channel-like 4 (TMC4) in the circumvallate and foliate papillae projected to the glossopharyngeal nerve, mediating a high-concentration of NaCl. Electrophysiological analysis using HEK293T cells revealed that TMC4 was a voltage-dependent Cl channel and the consequent currents were completely inhibited by NPPB, an anion channel blocker. TMC4 allowed permeation of organic anions including gluconate, but their current amplitudes at positive potentials were less than that of Cl. Tmc4-deficient mice showed significantly weaker glossopharyngeal nerve response to high-concentration of NaCl than the wild-type littermates. These results indicated that TMC4 is a novel chloride channel that responds to high-concentration of NaCl.

Citing Articles

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