Articles tagged with Taste Receptors
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Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that mosquitoes and other insects use taste receptors to detect DEET and smell citronellal, leading to aversion responses. The study identified three essential taste receptors for DEET detection and two distinct types of cell surface channels required for avoiding citronellal vapor.
A recent study published in Human Molecular Genetics found that genetic variation in bitter taste receptors predicts a person's perception of quinine's bitterness. This suggests that individual differences in how people experience quinine's bitterness are related to underlying genetic differences.
Researchers have found that calcium channels on the tongue are involved in enhancing flavors when paired with substances like glutathione. The study provides new insight into the biology of taste and could lead to the development of healthier foods with minimal sugar or salt.
Researchers found that endocannabinoids selectively enhance sweet taste by acting on tongue taste cells, which may help regulate feeding behavior. The study's findings also suggest potential therapeutic applications for metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Researchers identified a protein receptor, called carbonic anhydrase 4, that initiates the sensation of carbonation. The enzyme is expressed on sour-sensing cells and helps detect acid stimuli from carbon dioxide, explaining why we perceive fizz as a familiar sensation.
Researchers found that common herbicides and lipid-lowering drugs inhibit the T1R3 receptor in human tissues, affecting glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism. The study's findings highlight the importance of testing chemicals on human tissues to understand potential health effects.
Variations in the T1R3 gene correspond to individual differences in sensitivity to and perceived intensity of umami taste. The study found that certain people are highly insensitive to umami, making it difficult for them to detect low levels of this taste quality.
A study published in PLoS Biology reveals that fruit flies can detect and avoid the plant toxin L-canavanine using a modified glutamate receptor called DmXR. This detection is crucial for their survival, as consuming the toxin can lead to reproductive failure.
Researchers discovered that red pandas prefer artificial sweeteners like aspartame, which may reflect unique structural variations in their sweet taste receptor. This finding could lead to insights into individual differences in human taste function and nutritional health.
Duke University researchers found that nicotine sends signals directly to sensory systems by several pathways, similar to how taste is perceived. They also discovered a previously unknown link between nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and activity in the insula region.
A Japanese research team discovered that the wasabi receptor can sense and respond to ammonia, a base known to cause pain. The study, published in Journal of Clinical Investigation, reveals the molecular entity responsible for this phenomenon, providing insight into the mechanisms behind sushi-induced discomfort.
A low-cholesterol diet can trigger an increase in bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) in the gut, according to a new study. This may help limit the absorption of toxins in the intestine.
Children's rejection of medicine is a complex issue influenced by genetics, early experiences, and cultural factors. Research suggests that genetic variations in the TAS2R38 gene contribute to increased sensitivity to bitter tastes, which can be leveraged to create more palatable medicines.
Researchers have identified two receptors on the tongue that detect the taste of calcium, which is crucial for building strong bones. This discovery could lead to the development of foods and drinks that are more palatable and easier to consume.
A Japanese research group identified the PKD1L3-PKD2L1 channel complex as a key player in the sour taste sensation. This 'off-response' mechanism allows humans to detect sour flavors even after the removal of acidic stimuli.
Researchers at Monell Center found that fruit flies respond positively to most human-preferred sweeteners, highlighting the critical role of environment in shaping taste preferences. The study suggests convergent evolution in perceptual behavior, where similar environmental pressures led to similar taste responses.
A new primer on human taste perception and biology has been published, providing a clear overview of recent advances in understanding this primal sense. The study reveals the importance of taste in both positive experiences, such as enjoying food, and critical life-dependent responses, like spitting out toxic substances.
Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center identify chemical compounds from common foods that activate human bitter taste receptors, providing a practical means to manipulate food flavor. The findings may help make health-promoting bitter foods more palatable.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that fruit flies have taste cells specific to carbonation, which encourages them to consume food with growing microorganisms. The discovery suggests that other animals may have taste receptors tuned to important chemicals in their environment.
Fruit flies have been found to detect and be attracted to the taste of carbon dioxide dissolved in water, which may aid in scouting for nutritious food. This discovery suggests that humans may also be able to taste carbon dioxide, making their sense of taste more complex.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have identified a molecule in the intestine that can detect sugar content, which could lead to new treatments for diabetes and obesity. The sweet taste receptor is not only present in the tongue but also in the intestine, allowing it to monitor dietary sugars.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified taste receptors in the human intestines that sense glucose and regulate appetite. These receptors may lead to new treatments for obesity and diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels.
A twin study published by Monell Chemical Senses Center found that genes account for 53% of the variation in sour taste sensitivity, suggesting a genetic component to individual differences. This discovery may help identify the elusive taste receptor for sourness and inform strategies for promoting healthy eating.
A new study finds that the TRPM8 ion channel plays a crucial role in detecting cold temperatures by activating neural impulses. The research suggests that TRPM8 is not the sole receptor responsible for detecting extreme cold, indicating possible alternative pathways.
A specific taste receptor, Gr66a, has been identified as responsible for the detection of caffeine's bitter taste in fruit flies. The receptor plays a crucial role in mediating caffeine's perception and is also involved in the processing of other methylxanthines.
Research reveals that a specific receptor gene's variation affects perception of bitter compounds in plants, such as glucosinolates found in broccoli. This study supports the idea that evolution shaped human taste preferences to avoid thyroid-inhibiting compounds.
Researchers discovered that fruit flies missing the Gr66a protein consume caffeine as if it were not bitter due to their inability to detect its taste. This finding sheds light on how animals perceive bitterness and has implications for understanding caffeine-induced behavior in other organisms, including humans.
Researchers identified the cells and receptor responsible for sour taste, a primary gateway in all mammals for detecting spoiled food sources. The PKD2L1 receptor is found in a subpopulation of taste receptor cells on the tongue that do not function for sweet, bitter, or umami taste.
A team from the University of California, San Diego has identified the cells and protein responsible for detecting sour taste. The researchers found that each of the five basic tastes is detected by distinct receptors in separate cells, challenging a popular view that different tastes map to specific areas of the tongue.
Scientists found that certain artificial sweeteners like sodium saccharin and acesulfame-K paradoxically inhibit sweetness at high concentrations. When rinsed with water, the sweetness returns, revealing potential applications in medicine and food industry.
Researchers are developing new artificial sweeteners and non-calorie sweetness enhancers to reduce health risks associated with high sugar consumption. The ACS symposium highlights potential breakthroughs in treating taste disorders, identifying supertasters at risk of colon cancer, and creating safe natural sweeteners.
Researchers have successfully created living taste cells in a lab culture, opening new avenues for understanding the sense of taste and potentially treating disorders. The breakthrough could lead to new insights into how basal cells turn into functional taste cells.
Researchers at UVa Health System have identified a critical role of the CXCR2 receptor in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a leading cause of lung failure. The discovery opens new avenues for developing targeted therapies, including aerosol treatments that could potentially hit the lungs without compromising the immune system.
The study reveals that specific cells in fly brains detect distinct tastes, with separate neurons responding to sweet and bitter substances. This discovery suggests a model of taste encoding in the brain where dedicated neural circuits dictate behavioral outputs.
A global study found that the ability to discern bitter flavors likely offered a survival advantage by protecting ancient people from poisonous foods. The researchers also discovered that specific genetic variants confer increased sensitivity to toxins and beneficial compounds, with potential implications for human health.
Researchers found a specific region of the receptor interacts with signaling lipid PIP2, leading to desensitization. This discovery provides critical information on temperature regulation and opens new avenues for investigating membrane protein functions.
Researchers found that a person's specific allele of a single bitter-taste-receptor gene determines their perceptual sensitivity to PTC and related compounds. This suggests that genetic variations play a dominant role in determining individual differences in bitter-taste perception.
Researchers found that genetic variation in bitter taste receptors affects how people perceive bitterness, with some having heightened sensitivity and others being insensitive. This study expands our understanding of individual differences in taste perception and may lead to new insights into the role of bitter compounds in human health.
Researchers found that genetic variation in the TAS2R38 gene affects bitter taste sensitivity in children, influencing their food preferences. Children with a bitter-sensitive allele prefer sweeter tastes, while those with two bitter-insensitive alleles tend towards vegetable consumption.
A study by UC Berkeley neuroscientists found that fruit flies have taste receptors similar to humans, with four types devoted to sweet and bitter flavors. The researchers mapped the taste receptor nerve cells into the brain, revealing a map both of location and type of taste.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that flies have distinct combinations of bitter-sensitive nerve cells on their tongue, allowing them to discern among different bitter tastes. This unique ability might enable flies to select the best food item among multiple suboptimal choices.
Researchers have discovered that specific receptor molecules on the tongue trigger taste cells to transmit signals to the brain, governing sweet and umami tastes. The study's findings suggest individual variations in 'sweet tooth' responses may stem from subtle genetic differences in these receptors.
Researchers discovered two enzymes necessary for mice to process three basic tastes, challenging the long-held view that distinct machinery is needed. The study also found that restoring one enzyme can selectively restore specific taste modalities.
Researchers have identified 276 G protein-coupled receptors in the Anopheles mosquito genome, including 155 external chemosensory receptors that allow female mosquitoes to detect humans and other mammals by taste or smell. The discovery provides a new approach to studying mosquitoes and reducing the spread of malaria and other diseases.
Researchers have identified a receptor for the fifth taste, amino acid, which may aid understanding of how animals regulate nutritional intake. The discovery also has potential applications in the food industry, such as formulating new products with specific tastes.
Scientists have identified a family of candidate genes in humans and mice that code for receptors detecting bitter and sweet tastes. The discovery provides new tools to trace the wiring of the taste perception pathways into the brain, shedding light on how we perceive different tastes.
Researchers have identified a new family of genes that encode proteins functioning as bitter taste receptors, providing crucial insight into the organization of the taste system. The study reveals that these receptors are expressed in cells that also express gustducin, a coupling protein critical for sending bitter signals to the brain.
Scientists have discovered a new family of bitter taste receptors that can detect different forms of bitter and are found in the cells of taste buds. These receptors were found to be highly discriminative and appear to play a crucial role in an animal's survival.
Researchers found that specific tastes can be produced by temperature stimulation, just as certain chemicals can evoke only certain taste qualities. Thermal taste is different on different parts of the tongue, with sweetness perceived on the tip, sourness on the side, and bitterness in the back.
Scientists have isolated two novel proteins expressed in cells specifically geared to the sense of taste, which are believed to be the first taste receptors. These candidate taste receptors resemble those that mediate sensory processes such as vision and olfaction and are positioned in specific cells on the tongue.
Researchers found that mice without the D2 receptor had lower alcohol consumption and aversion, suggesting a genetic basis for alcoholism. The study provides insight into the complex interaction between dopamine receptors and systems in the brain.