A gustatory cyclic nucleotide-gated channels CNGgust, is expressed in the retina

CYCLIC nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels are essential proteins that contribu te to the intracellular signal transduction of the senses of sight and smel l. Recently, we found a novel CNG channel (CNGgust) in rat taste buds, and demonstrated its possible involvement in taste signal transduction. In the present study, we used RT-PCR and immunostaining to prove that this gustato ry CNG channel is expressed in the outer segments of rat cone photoreceptor cells. The study strongly suggests that the senses taste and sight share, at least in part, a common signal transduction pathway. NeuroReport 10:743- 746 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.