DOI: 10.5061/dryad.sbcc2frks
title: TMC4 localizes to multiple taste cell types in the mouse taste papillae

description: Salty taste is mediated through two distinct transduction pathways: the
 amiloride-sensitive and amiloride-insensitive (AI). Transmembrane
 channel-like 4 (TMC4), a voltage-dependent chloride channel, has recently
 been identified as playing a critical role in AI-mediated salt taste
 responses. Although its functional properties have been demonstrated, the
 specific taste cell types that express TMC4 have not been fully
 characterized. To investigate the cellular localization of TMC4, we
 generated Tmc4-EGFP knock-in mice and performed immunohistochemical
 analyses of the taste papillae. By performing multiple fluorescent
 immunostaining with cell-type-specific markers, such as KCNQ1 (type
 I–III), Gustducin and PLCβ2 (type II), and AADC (type III), together with
 EGFP, we found that over 98% of EGFP-positive cells overlapped with the
 signal of all three taste cell type markers in the circumvallate papillae
 of Tmc4-EGFP mice. In the fungiform papillae, 95.9% of EGFP-positive cells
 co-localized with KCNQ1. These results demonstrate that TMC4 is broadly
 expressed across all three taste cell types, and suggest the possible
 involvement of multiple, functionally distinct taste cell populations in
 AI-mediated salty taste transduction.
description: # TMC4 localizes to multiple taste cell types in the mouse taste papillae
 Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.sbcc2frks](10.5061/dryad.sbcc2frks) ##
 Description of the data and file structure *
 Raw_data_for_KCNQ1_CvP_Table1.csv * Raw_data_for_Gustducin_CvP_Table1.csv
 * Raw_data_for_PLCb2_CvP_Table1.csv * Raw_data_for_AADC_CvP_Table1.csv ###
 Files and variables #### File: Raw_data_for_KCNQ1_CvP_Table1.csv
 **Description:** Results of double staining for KCNQ1 and EGFP in the CvP
 ##### Variables * Sample ID: Circumvallate papillae (CvP) samples from
 three mice; immunoreactive cells were counted in three sections per CvP. *
 Number of EGFP-positive cells: Number of EGFP-positive cells in double
 staining with KCNQ1 and EGFP * Number of KCNQ1 positive cells: Number of
 KCNQ1-positive cells in double staining with KCNQ1 and EGFP *
 double-positive cells: Number of KCNQ1 and EGFP-doble positive cells *
 Number of taste buds: Number of taste buds observed per section * Number
 of taste cells: Number of taste cells counted per section #### File:
 Raw_data_for_Gustducin_CvP_Table1.csv **Description:** Results of double
 staining for Gustducin and EGFP in the CvP ##### Variables * Sample
 ID: CvP samples from three mice; immunoreactive cells were counted in
 three sections per CvP. * Number of EGFP-positive cells: Number of
 EGFP-positive cells in double staining with Gustducin and EGFP * Number of
 Gustducin positive cells: Number of Gustducin-positive cells in double
 staining with Gustducin and EGFP * double-positive cells: Number of
 Gustducin and EGFP-doble positive cells * Number of taste buds: Number of
 taste buds observed per section * Number of taste cells: Number of taste
 cells counted per section #### File: Raw_data_for_PLCb2_CvP_Table1.csv
 **Description:** Results of double staining for PLCb2 and EGFP in the CvP
 ##### Variables * Sample ID: CvP samples from three mice; immunoreactive
 cells were counted in three sections per CvP. * Number of EGFP-positive
 cells: Number of EGFP-positive cells in double staining with PLCb2 and
 EGFP * Number of PLCb2 positive cells: Number of PLCb2-positive cells in
 double staining with PLCb2 and EGFP * double-positive cells: Number of
 PLCb2 and EGFP-doble positive cells * Number of taste buds: Number of
 taste buds observed per section * Number of taste cells: Number of taste
 cells counted per section #### File: Raw_data_for_AADC_CvP_Table1.csv
 **Description:** Results of double staining for AADC and EGFP in the CvP
 ##### Variables * Sample ID: CvP samples from three mice; immunoreactive
 cells were counted in three sections per CvP. * Number of EGFP-positive
 cells: Number of EGFP-positive cells in double staining with AADC and EGFP
 * Number of AADC positive cells: Number of AADC-positive cells in double
 staining with AADC and EGFP * double-positive cells: Number of AADC and
 EGFP-doble positive cells * Number of taste buds: Number of taste buds
 observed per section * Number of taste cells: Number of taste cells
 counted per section #### File: Raw_data_for_KCNQ1_FuP_Table2.csv
 **Description:** Results of double staining for KCNQ1 and EGFP in the FuP
 ##### Variables * Sample ID: Fungiform papillae (FuP) samples from three
 mice; immunoreactive cells were counted in two sections per FuP. * Number
 of EGFP-positive cells: Number of EGFP-positive cells in double staining
 with KCNQ1 and EGFP * Number of KCNQ1 positive cells: Number of
 KCNQ1-positive cells in double staining with KCNQ1 and EGFP *
 double-positive cells: Number of KCNQ1 and EGFP-doble positive cells *
 Number of taste buds: Number of taste buds observed per section * Number
 of taste cells: Number of taste cells counted per section