scholarly journals Genes for Taste Receptors. Isolation of a Gene for a Sour Taste Receptor.

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-110
Author(s):  
Shinya UGAWA ◽  
Shoichi SHIMADA
2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (6) ◽  
pp. G1005-G1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. DeSimone ◽  
Vijay Lyall

Taste plays an essential role in food selection and consequently overall nutrition. Because salt taste is appetitive, humans ingest more salt than they need. Acids are the source of intrinsically aversive sour taste, but in mixtures with sweeteners they are consumed in large quantities. Recent results have provided fresh insights into transduction and sensory adaptation for the salty and sour taste modalities. The sodium-specific salt taste receptor is the epithelial sodium channel whereas a nonspecific salt taste receptor is a taste variant of the vanilloid receptor-1 nonselective cation channel, TRPV1. The proximate stimulus for sour taste is a decrease in the intracellular pH of a subset of acid-sensing taste cells, which serves as the input to separate transduction pathways for the phasic and tonic parts of the sour neural response. Adaptation to sour arises from the activation of the basolateral sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform-1 by an increase in intracellular calcium that sustains the tonic phase of the sour taste response.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 8-15
Author(s):  
Emily R Liman ◽  
Sue C Kinnamon
Keyword(s):  

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil N. Patel ◽  
Alan D. Workman ◽  
Noam A. Cohen

Evidence is emerging that shows taste receptors serve functions outside of taste sensation of the tongue. Taste receptors have been found in tissue across the human body, including the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, brain, and airway. These extraoral taste receptors appear to be important in modulating the innate immune response through detection of pathogens. This review discusses taste receptor signaling, focusing on the G-protein–coupled receptors that detect bitter and sweet compounds in the upper airway epithelium. Emphasis is given to recent studies which link the physiology of sinonasal taste receptors to clinical manifestation of upper airway disease.


2002 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 1135-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander A. Bachmanov ◽  
Danielle R. Reed ◽  
Xia Li ◽  
Gary K. Beauchamp

Inbred mouse strains display marked differences in avidity for sweet solutions due in part to genetic differences among strains. Using several techniques, we have located a number of regions throughout the genome that influence sweetener acceptance. One prominent locus regulating differences in sweetener preferences among mouse strains is the saccharin preference (Sac) locus on distal chromosome 4. Afferent responses of gustatory nerves to sweeteners also vary as a function of allelic differences in the Sac locus, suggesting that this gene may encode a sweet taste receptor. Using a positional cloning approach, we identified a gene (Tas1r3) encoding the third member of the T1R family of putative taste receptors, T1R3. Introgression by serial back-crossing of a chromosomal fragment containing the Tas1r3 allele from the high sweetener-preferring strain onto the genetic background of the low sweetener-preferring strain rescued its low sweetener-preference phenotype. Tas1r3 has two common haplotypes, one found in mouse strains with elevated sweetener preference and the other in strains relatively indifferent to sweeteners. This study, in conjunction with complimentary recent studies from other laboratories, provides compelling evidence that Tas1r3 is equivalent to the Sac locus and that the T1R3 receptor (when co-expressed with taste receptor T1R2) responds to sweeteners. However, other sweetness receptors may remain to be identified.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Governini ◽  
Bianca Semplici ◽  
Valentina Pavone ◽  
Laura Crifasi ◽  
Camilla Marrocco ◽  
...  

Taste receptors (TASRs) are expressed not only in the oral cavity but also throughout the body, thus suggesting that they may play different roles in organ systems beyond the tongue. Recent studies showed the expression of several TASRs in mammalian testis and sperm, indicating an involvement of these receptors in male gametogenesis and fertility. This notion is supported by an impaired reproductive phenotype of mouse carrying targeted deletion of taste receptor genes, as well as by a significant correlation between human semen parameters and specific polymorphisms of taste receptor genes. To better understand the biological and thus clinical significance of these receptors for human reproduction, we analyzed the expression of several members of the TAS2Rs family of bitter receptors in human testis and in ejaculated sperm before and after in vitro selection and capacitation. Our results provide evidence for the expression of TAS2R genes, with TAS2R14 being the most expressed bitter receptor subtype in both testis tissue and sperm cells, respectively. In addition, it was observed that in vitro capacitation significantly affects both the expression and the subcellular localization of these receptors in isolated spermatozoa. Interestingly, α-gustducin and α-transducin, two Gα subunits expressed in taste buds on the tongue, are also expressed in human spermatozoa; moreover, a subcellular redistribution of both G protein α-subunits to different sub-compartments of sperm was registered upon in vitro capacitation. Finally, we shed light on the possible downstream transduction pathway initiated upon taste receptor activation in the male reproductive system. Performing ultrasensitive droplets digital PCR assays to quantify RNA copy numbers of a distinct gene, we found a significant correlation between the expression of TAS2Rs and TRPM5 (r = 0.87), the cation channel involved in bitter but also sweet and umami taste transduction in taste buds on the tongue. Even if further studies are needed to clarify the precise functional role of taste receptors for successful reproduction, the presented findings significantly extend our knowledge of the biological role of TAS2Rs for human male fertility.


Author(s):  
Danilo Di Bona ◽  
Alberto Malovini ◽  
Giulia Accardi ◽  
Anna Aiello ◽  
Giuseppina Candore ◽  
...  

AbstractBitter taste receptors (TAS2R) are involved in a variety of non-tasting physiological processes, including immune-inflammatory ones. Therefore, their genetic variations might influence various traits. In particular, in different populations of South Italy (Calabria, Cilento, and Sardinia), polymorphisms of TAS2R16 and TAS238 have been analysed in association with longevity with inconsistent results. A meta-analytic approach to quantitatively synthesize the possible effect of the previous variants and, possibly, to reconcile the inconsistencies has been used in the present paper. TAS2R38 variants in the Cilento population were also analysed for their possible association with longevity and the obtained data have been included in the relative meta-analysis. In population from Cilento no association was found between TAS2R38 and longevity, and no association was observed as well, performing the meta-analysis with data of the other studies. Concerning TAS2R16 gene, instead, the genotype associated with longevity in the Calabria population maintained its significance in the meta-analysis with data from Cilento population, that, alone, were not significant in the previously published study. In conclusion, our results suggest that TAS2R16 genotype variant is associated with longevity in South Italy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Menizibeya O. Welcome ◽  
Nikos E. Mastorakis ◽  
Vladimir A. Pereverzev

Sweet taste receptors are transmembrane protein network specialized in the transmission of information from special “sweet” molecules into the intracellular domain. These receptors can sense the taste of a range of molecules and transmit the information downstream to several acceptors, modulate cell specific functions and metabolism, and mediate cell-to-cell coupling through paracrine mechanism. Recent reports indicate that sweet taste receptors are widely distributed in the body and serves specific function relative to their localization. Due to their pleiotropic signaling properties and multisubstrate ligand affinity, sweet taste receptors are able to cooperatively bind multiple substances and mediate signaling by other receptors. Based on increasing evidence about the role of these receptors in the initiation and control of absorption and metabolism, and the pivotal role of metabolic (glucose) regulation in the central nervous system functioning, we propose a possible implication of sweet taste receptor signaling in modulating cognitive functioning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celeste Ferraris ◽  
Alexandria Turner ◽  
Christopher J. Scarlett ◽  
Martin Veysey ◽  
Mark Lucock ◽  
...  

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in taste receptors influence dietary choices that contribute to health and quality of life. Individual differences in sour taste perception and preference have been linked to heritable genetics, yet the impact of sour taste receptor SNPs on sour taste is under-researched, and studies on sour taste SNP associations to diet and health are lacking. Therefore, this study explored the relationships between the sour taste SNP KCNJ2-rs236514 and estimated macronutrient, vitamin and mineral intakes, and markers of metabolic health. Associations were explored in 523 participants aged 65 years and older with data analysed using standard least squares and nominal logistic regression modelling with post hoc student's t-tests and Tukey's HSD. Associations were found between the presence of the KCNJ2-rs236514 variant allele (A) and lower intakes of energy, total fat, monounsaturated fat and saturated fat. The lower fat intakes were significant in female carriers of the variant allele (A), along with lower water intake. Lower retinol, riboflavin, folate, calcium and sodium intakes were found in the KCNJ2-A allele carriers. In females, the variant allele was associated with lower sodium intake before and after Bonferroni adjustment. Higher body mass index, waist and waist-to-hip ratio measures were found in males carrying the variant allele. Lower levels of liver function biomarkers were associated with the presence of the KCNJ2-A allele. Overall and in males, the variant's association to lower gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels remained significant after Bonferroni adjustments. These novel findings suggest the sour taste SNP, KCNJ2-rs236514, may be modifying macronutrient, vitamin and mineral intakes, and markers of metabolic health. Research on the extra-oral functions of this SNP may improve health outcomes for those with overweight, obesity and liver disease.


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