Molecular Genetics Unit, LOSB
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH/NIDCR
BUILDING 10 ROOM 1A24
10 Center Drive, MSC 1188
BETHESDA MD 20892-1188
Phone: (301) 402-2401
Fax: (301) 480-3590
Email: mhoon@dir.nidcr.nih.gov
Research Interests
The Molecular Genetics Unit investigates the biology of somatosensation (e.g. thermal and nociceptive stimulation and the sense of touch) at a molecular and cellular level. We are particularly interested in molecules that have roles in signaling cascades within the primary sensory neurons that transform stimulation into membrane depolarization. These studies will provide information about the mechanisms by which somatosensory receptor cells transduce signals. Identification of these genes will also provide important tools to develop genetically engineered mice for physiological and behavioral studies to help define the function of cell types in vivo. Ultimately, we would like to establish how different types of stimuli are distinguished by determining the neural circuitry of functionally defined receptor cells. These experiments extend and parallel those being used to define the logic of taste coding and thus there is considerable interaction between the Molecular Genetics Unit and Taste and Smell Unit.
Recent Publications
Hoon, M. A., Adler, E., Lindemeier, J., Battey, J. F., Ryba, N. J. P. and Zuker, C. S. 1999. Putative mammalian taste receptors: a class of taste-specific GPCRs with distinct topographic selectivity. Cell 96:541-551
Chandrashekar, J., Mueller, K. L., Hoon, M. A., Adler, E., Feng, L., Guo, W., Zuker, C. S. and Ryba, N. J. P. 2000. T2Rs function as bitter taste receptors. Cell 100:703-711.
Adler, E., Hoon, M. A., Mueller, K. L., Chandrashekar, J., Ryba, N. J. P. and Zuker, C. S. 2000. A novel family of mammalian taste receptors. Cell 100:693-702.
Nelson, G., Hoon, M. A., Chandrashekar, J., Zhang, Y., Ryba, N. J. P. and Zuker, C. S. 2001. Mammalian sweet taste receptors. Cell 106:381-390.
Nelson, G., Chandrashekar, J., Hoon, M. A., Feng, L., Zhao, G., Ryba, N. J. P. and Zuker, C. S. 2002. An amino-acid taste receptor. Nature 416:199-202.
Zhang, Y., Hoon, M. A., Chandrashekar, J., Mueller, K. L., Cook, B., Wu, D., Zuker, C. S. and Ryba, N. J. P. 2003. Coding of sweet, bitter, and umami tastes: different receptor cells sharing similar signaling pathways. Cell 112:293-301.
Zhao, G., Zhang, Y., Hoon, M. A., Chandrashekar, J., Erlenbach, I., Ryba, N. J. P. and Zuker, C. S. 2003. The receptors for mammalian sweet and umami taste. Cell 115:255-266.
Mueller, K. L., Hoon, M. A., Erlenbach, I., Chandrashekar, J., Zuker, C. S. and Ryba, N. J. P. 2005. The receptors and coding logic for bitter taste. Nature 434: 225-229.
Huang, A. L., Chen, X., Hoon, M. A., Chandrashekar, J., Trankner, D., Ryba, N. J. P., Zuker, C. S.: 2006. The Cells and Logic for Mammalian Sour Taste detection. Nature 442: 288-294.
Chandrashekar, J., Hoon, M. A., Ryba, N. J. P., Zuker, C. S.: 2006. The Biology of Mammalian Taste Receptors and Cells. Nature 444: 934-938.