Ultrastructural Analyses of Chemosensory Signal-Transduction
The main objective our research was to investigate the subcellular sites where olfactory and gustatory (taste) chemosensory signal transduction takes place. Biochemistry, physiology, and light microscopy can give some indication of location of chemosensory molecules, but high-resolution electron microscopy is essential to determine these locations precisely. Chemoreceptor cells have specialized hair like structures that extend in nasal or oral cavities, and that are called cilia and microvilli in olfactory and gustatory chemoreception. We studied whether morphological compartmentalizations parallel functional ones and whether key molecules involved in olfactory signaling are especially contained in these olfactory cilia, and vomeronasal and gustatory microvilli.
Bert Menco, PhD
Agricultural University Wageningen
The Netherlands
Formerly associated with the
Department of Neurobiology
Northwestern University
Selected References:
• Menco, B. Ph. M. (2005) The fine-structural distribution of G-protein receptor kinase 3, β-arrestin-2, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and phosphodiesterase PDE1C2, and a Cl--cotransporter in rodent olfactory epithelia. J. Neurocytol., 34: 11-36. [abstract].
• Koo, J.H., S. Gill, L.K. Pannell, B.Ph.M.
Menco, J.W. Margolis, & F.L. Margolis (2004) The interaction of
Bex and OMP reveals a dimer of OMP with a short half-life. J. Neurochem.,
90: 102-116. [abstract].
• Menco, B.Ph.M. & E.E. Morrison (2003) Morphology of the mammalian olfactory epithelium: Form, fine structure, function, and pathology. In: Ed., R. L. Doty. Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation, 2nd edition. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, pp. 17-49.
• Menco, B.Ph.M., V.McM. Carr, P.I. Ezeh, E.R.
Liman & M.P. Yankova (2001) Ultrastructural localization of G-proteins
and the channel protein
TRP2
to microvilli of
rat vomeronasal
receptor
cells. J. Comp. Neurol., 438: 468-489. [abstract].
Other
Links:
• Link
to a more detailed research description
• Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS)
• European Chemoreception Research Organisation
• Bert's alma mater: Wageningen University
• Frederik Ruysch by Jozien van het Reve
• A link "out of concern" and to foster awareness (The Global Amphibian Assessment)
• Union of Concerned Scientists
• Food and Water Watch-Factory Farming
