TASTE RECEPTOR PROTEINS DIRECTLY EXTRACTED BY LIPOSOME FROM INTACT EPITHELIUM OF BULLFROG TONGUE

This work first provides that epithelial membrane proteins can be dire ctly transferred from animal intact tissue to liposome. Bullfrog tongu e was treated with a specially modified liposome that contains an arti ficial boundary lipid. Glossopharyngeal nerve responses of the treated tongue were then measured to five taste stimuli (NH4Cl, L-Ala, sucros e, L-Leu, and quinine hudrochloride). The liposomal treatment caused r emarkable changes of the taste nerve responses. Gel electrophoretic an alysis of the treated liposome revealed that the direct transfer of pr oteins,likely taste receptor, certainly occurred from the tongue epith elium to the liposome. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.