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The receptors and coding logic for bitter taste

Author

Listed:
  • Ken L. Mueller

    (University of California at San Diego)

  • Mark A. Hoon

    (National Institutes of Health)

  • Isolde Erlenbach

    (National Institutes of Health)

  • Jayaram Chandrashekar

    (University of California at San Diego)

  • Charles S. Zuker

    (University of California at San Diego)

  • Nicholas J. P. Ryba

    (National Institutes of Health)

Abstract

Leaving a bitter taste Almost every naturally occurring toxin tastes bitter, so the ability to detect bitterness is vital to animals as a means of avoiding poisonous substances. The T2R family of receptors, found on the tongue and palate epithelium, are implicated in bitter taste sensing. A combination of genetic, behavioural and physiological studies now confirms that T2R receptors are necessary and sufficient for the detection and perception of bitter compounds. Intriguingly the system can be subverted: bitter can be the new sweet. Mice engineered to express a bitter taste receptor in what are normally ‘sweet’ cells display strong attraction to this family of bitter compounds. So the ‘taste’ of a sweet or a bitter compound is a reflection of how the specific receptors are wired, rather than a property of the receptors or even of the tasted molecules themselves.

Suggested Citation

  • Ken L. Mueller & Mark A. Hoon & Isolde Erlenbach & Jayaram Chandrashekar & Charles S. Zuker & Nicholas J. P. Ryba, 2005. "The receptors and coding logic for bitter taste," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7030), pages 225-229, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:434:y:2005:i:7030:d:10.1038_nature03352
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03352
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