Pkd1l3, a member of the polycystic kidney disease (PKD) protein family, is of significance. It forms a heteromeric complex with PKD2L1 (also known as TRPP2 or TRPP3), functioning as a candidate sour taste receptor [3]. This complex has been a prototype for characterizing heterotetrametric TRP-like channels, and is involved in acid taste transduction pathways [3]. Genetic models can be valuable in studying its function.

In taste-related functional studies, mice with a targeted mutation of the Pkd1l3 gene were examined. However, no significant reduction in taste responsiveness was found in Pkd1l3 mutant mice compared to wild-type controls in behavioral or electrophysiological tests, indicating that further research is needed to clarify its function in taste bud cells [2]. Additionally, a Pkd1l3 splice variant in taste buds was studied, revealing that it is not cleaved at the G protein-coupled receptor proteolytic site (GPS). Mutation at the GPS abolishes cleavage, and the non-cleavable mutant does not traffic to the plasma membrane when associated with TRPP3 [1].

In conclusion, while Pkd1l3 is implicated in acid taste transduction as part of a complex with PKD2L1, its exact role in taste bud cells remains to be fully elucidated. The study of splice variants and gene-knockout mouse models, such as the Pkd1l3-targeted mutant mice, contribute to understanding its potential functions in taste-related biological processes.

References:

1. Kashyap, Parul, Ng, Courtney, Wang, Zhifei, Martin, Hannah, Yu, Yong. 2019. A PKD1L3 splice variant in taste buds is not cleaved at the G protein-coupled receptor proteolytic site. In Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 512, 812-818. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.03.099. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30928102/

2. Nelson, Theodore M, Lopezjimenez, Nelson D, Tessarollo, Lino, Bachmanov, Alexander A, Sullivan, Susan L. 2010. Taste function in mice with a targeted mutation of the pkd1l3 gene. In Chemical senses, 35, 565-77. doi:10.1093/chemse/bjq070. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20605874/

3. Ishimaru, Yoshiro, Inada, Hitoshi, Kubota, Momoka, Tominaga, Makoto, Matsunami, Hiroaki. 2006. Transient receptor potential family members PKD1L3 and PKD2L1 form a candidate sour taste receptor. In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103, 12569-74. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16891422/