Contact Information
(267) 519-4872
Jie Cao
Research Associate
Education
Ph.D., Psychology; Rutgers University
Research Summary
To gain a better understanding of taste transduction, I am isolating and identifying taste-related genes from taste cDNA libraries. To then place these discoveries in a cellular context, we analyze gene expression profiles of microdissected individual taste cells. One recently discovered gene codes for the key enzyme in the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin. The cellular specificity of the enzyme and the role of serotonin in taste transduction are being studied.
Recent Publications
Huang, L., Cao, J., Wang, H., Vo, L. A., & Brand, J. G. (2006). Identification and functional characterization of a voltage-gated chloride channel and its novel splice variant in taste bud cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280, 36150-36157.
Li, X., Li, W., Wang, H., Bayley, D. L., Cao, J., Reed, D. R. et al. (2006). Cats lack a sweet taste receptor. Journal of Nutrition, 136 (7Suppl), 1932S-1934S.
Ozdener, M. H., Yee, K. K., Cao, J., Brand, J. G., Teeter, J. H., & Rawson, N. E. (2006). Characterization and long term maintenance of rat taste cells in culture. Chemical Senses, 31, 279-290.
Li, X., Li, W., Wang, H., Cao, J., Maehashi, M., Huang, L. et al. (2005). Pseudogenization of a sweet receptor gene accounts for cats’ indifference toward sugar. PLoS Genetics, 1, e3.
Rossier, O., Cao, J., Huque, T., Spielman, A. I., Feldman, R. S., Medrano, J. F. et al. (2004). Analysis of a human fungiform papillae cDNA library and identification of taste-related genes. Chemical Senses, 29, 13-23.
