Discovery
Gustducin was discovered by Margolskee when degenerate oligonucleotide primers were synthesized and mixed with a taste tissue cDNA library. The DNA products were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction method and eight positive clones were shown to encode the α subunits of G-proteins, which interact with G-protein-coupled receptors. Of these eight units, two had previously been shown to encode rod and cone α-transducin. The eighth clone, α-gustducin, was unique to the gustatory tissue.
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