Scanning Blockface 3D EM of taste buds: a new window into functional organization

描述(申请人提供)：味蕾是复杂的多细胞内脏，对味觉的检测是必不可少的。味蕾的细胞区分营养和潜在的有毒物质，并将这一信息传递给支配它们的味觉神经。尽管最近在理解味觉转导的分子信号方面取得了进展，但对细胞之间的相互作用和信息向外周神经系统的传递缺乏完整的了解。我们建议使用一种新发明的技术--连续区块脸扫描EM，来生成味蕾结构的完整3D图像。这将允许对几个关键特征进行详细的分析和确定，包括：1)单个神经纤维是否与芽中的一种以上细胞类型进行功能接触；2)I类细胞是否完全分离其他类型的细胞，或者分子上不同的化学传感器元件之间是否有可能进行功能连接；3)非典型线粒体是否是仅位于味觉细胞(苦味、甜味和鲜味)和神经纤维之间特殊接触点的独特有机体。对味蕾详细结构的进一步了解将有助于研究人员就不同细胞元素之间的功能相互作用制定基于数据的假说，并更清楚地了解味觉信息是如何传递到神经系统的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Taste buds are complex multicellular endorgans essential for detection of taste. The cells of a taste bud distinguish between the nutritious and the potentially toxic, and communicate this information to the taste nerves innervating them. Despite recent advances in understanding the molecular signaling underlying taste transduction, a complete understanding of cell--cell interactions and transmission of information to the peripheral nervous system is lacking. We propose to use a newly invented technology, serial blockface scanning EM, to generate a complete 3D picture of taste bud structure. This will permit detailed analysis and determination of several key features including: 1) whether individual nerve fibers make functional contact with more than one cell type in a bud, 2) whether Type I cells fully separate the other cell types or whether there is potential for functional connections between the molecularly different chemosensor elements, and 3) whether atypical mitochondria are unique organlees lying only at points of specialized contact between taste cells (for bitter, sweet and umami) and nerve fibers. This greater understanding of the detailed structure of taste buds will help investigators formulate data-based hypotheses regarding functional interactions between the different cellular elements and a more clear understanding of how taste information is transmitted to the nervous system.