Jie Cao
Research Associate

D.V.M., Ph.D.
(Psychology; Rutgers University)

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.

My Monell Publications