Lrmp/Jaw1 is Expressed in Sweet, Bitter, and Umami Receptor–Expressing Cells

Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate–mediated calcium (IP(3)-Ca(2+)) signal cascade is an essential process in sweet, bitter, and umami taste signal transduction. Although the main components of this cascade have been identified, the candidate regulators of them in taste tissues are still unclear. In an effort to identify genes involved in taste signal transduction, we found that a gene encoding lymphoid-restricted membrane protein (Lrmp/Jaw1) was expressed in mouse taste tissues. Here we report that Lrmp/Jaw1 is specifically expressed in sweet, bitter, and umami taste receptor–expressing cells of mouse circumvallate, foliate, and fungiform papillae. In addition to this specific expression patterns, we found that Lrmp/Jaw1 is associated with type III IP(3) receptor (IP(3)R3) via its coiled-coil domain in the COS7 heterologous expression system. These results raise the possibility that Lrmp/Jaw1 interacts with IP(3)R3 in taste cells and suggest an important role for Lrmp/Jaw1 in the IP(3)-Ca(2+) signal cascade in sweet, bitter, and umami taste signal transduction.