Progress 07/25/10 to 07/24/15
Outputs
Target Audience:We are trying to make basic scientific discoveries with the potential for translation to medical practice. We are reaching other scientists in related biomedical fields, medical practitioners, and lay people who are interested in their own health and physiology. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A graduate student Matt Kochem and several undergraduates Gia Duong, Alexandra Stellwag, Sunny Brewer, Caitlin Jones, and Katrina Leung developed research design and data collection and analysis skills working on experiments under this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Apart from publications already listed there were several invited addresses given, some of which are available on Youtube.com for anyone to watch: Agriculture, Cooking, and Evolutionary Adaptations. Annual Food Sense meeting, Public Outreach Lecture. University of Missouri, Columbia, 2012. Why Are The Senses Important to Digestion? or Why Did Ivan Pavlov Win a Nobel? Annual Food Sense meeting, Plenary Lecture. University of Missouri, Columbia, 2012. Bitter Taste: The ubiquitous Paradox from Toxins in Our Food. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, Zurich, Switzerland, 2012 Gustatory detection and perception of oral food chemicals. Annual meeting of MARM-ACS, Philadelphia, 2012. Food choices and eating patterns. Annual meeting of the International Life Sciences Institute, 2013. Anticipatory digestive responses to foods. Non-Wood Forest Products, Health, and Well-Being" University of Helsinki & University of Turku, Finland January 2014 Anticipating Foods, Physiological Responses, Cornell University, Department of Food Science 2014 Oleocanthal, TEDX Meeting: Ideas in Action. Rutgers University, March, 2015. Oleocanthal and Health, Oleocanthal International Society meeting, Zakynthos, Greece 2015. Salt Taste and Substitutes, at ILSI Symposium "Safety of Sodium Reduction in the Food Supply", Washington DC, 2015. Olive Oil and Cancer, National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS), New Jersey 2015. Oleocanthal: Cancer and Alzheimer's Disease. Oleocanthal International Society: Health and Gastronomy Congress, Ubeda-Baeza, Spain, 2015. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
List of Significant Results Human taste sensitivity to the amino acid glutamate has a heritability of h2 = 0.26. The human plasma lipid lowering drugs, the fibrates, inhibit umami taste. Some subjects reliably show enhancement of umami taste by the addition of IMP to glutamate but do not show any enhancing effect of adding GMP. Whereas, most subject show enhancing effects of adding either IMP or GMP. The nucleotide CMP is an inhibitor of umami taste from glutamate in most humans. We identified a mutation in T1R3 that is associated with decreased sensitivity to umami taste from glutamate. We also identified mutations in T2Rs that are associated with altered perception of bitter taste. And we found a heritability of quinine bitter taste of h2 = 0.69. We identified mutations in T2R16 that are associated with bitter taste of salicin. We demonstrated that these mutations in T2R16 are more associated with transport of receptors into cell membranes than with ligand binding or signaling. We were one of the first teams to express human T1R1-T1R3 to show that it responds to glutamate and shows synergy with added IMP. We also demonstrated that these receptors likely require specific chaperone molecules to insert into the cell membrane. Expressing human T2R16, we identified that probenecid is an allosteric inhibitor of the receptor and that it blocks bitter taste in people perceptually. This is the first molecular demonstration of a human bitter taste allosteric inhibitor.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Campbell, M.C., Ranciaro A., Zinshteyn, D., Rawlings-Goss, R., Hirbo, J., Thompson, S., Woldemeskel, D., Froment, A., Rucker, J.B., Omar, S.A., Bodo, J.M., Nyambo, T., Belay, G., Drayna, D., Breslin, P.A., Tishkoff, S.A. (2014) Origin and Differential Selection of Allelic Variation at TAS2R16 Associated with Salicin Bitter Taste Sensitivity in Africa. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 31: 288-302. PMID: 24177185
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Wassef, L., Wirawan, R., Chikindas, M., Breslin, P.A.S., Hoffman, D., Quadro, L. (2014) Beta Carotene-producing Bacteria Residing in the Intestine Provide Vitamin A to Mouse Tissues In Vivo. J Nutrition, 144, 608-613. [Cover Article] PMID: 24598882
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Campbell, M.C., Ranciaro, A., Zinshteyn, D., Rawlings-Goss, R., Hirbo, J., Thompson, S., Woldemeskel, D., Froment, A., Omar, S.A., Bodo, J.M., Nyambo, T., Belay, G., Drayna, D., Breslin, P.A., Tishkoff, S.A. (2014) Limited Evidence for Adaptive Evolution and Functional Effect of Allelic Variation at rs702424 in the Promoter of the TAS2R16 Bitter Taste Receptor Gene in Africa. J. Human Genetics Jun;59(6):349-52. doi: 10.1038/jhg.2014.29. Epub 2014 May 1. PMID: 24785689
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences include individuals, groups, market segments, or communities that were served by the project. Include population groups such as racial and ethnic minorities and those who are socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project has provided the opportunity for one PhD student and one PhD candidate, as well as four undergraduate students. Both graduate students have presented their research at their University and at professional conferences How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We plan to continue genetic screening and psychophysical testing, both to expand the dataset in place and to broaden the search for genetic influence on perceptual differences in individuals and populations.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Our objective is to use a psycho-pharmacological approach to understand and to help identify the oral taste receptors for macronutrients including carbohydrates and amino acid receptors. In this study we focused on topical inhibitors of the Class 1 taste receptor, the TAS1Rs,to determine if they inhibit the savory umami taste quality of amino acids such as glutamate. The two compounds we used were lactisole and the blood cholesterol lowering compound clofibrate, which also inhibits T1Rs. The majority of subjects find clofibrate a more effective umami taste inhibitor than lactisole. But some subjectsfind lactisole a more effective umami taste inhibitor than clofibrate. The pharmacological T1R inhibitor clofibrate reduces umami taste effectively around the 100 mM glutamate range. This class of drug is important for minimizing heart disease and atherosclerosis in patients. But it purported mechanism of action does not involve the T1R receptors. Given that these receptors are expressed throughout the gastro-intestinal tract and are on the pancreas, they play a key role in regulating plasma nutrient levels. Perhaps the action of these drugs on T1R receptors also aids in controlling cholesterol levels.The T1R genes of these subjects are presently being fully sequenced to determine if there are associations between genotype and taste abilities. Their receptors will ultimately be functionally expressed in vitro to determine if mutations in the receptor can account for these perceptual traits.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: This project aims to target two audiences: the scientific community and the members of the community who can influence policy regarding public health and implement positive changes to the diet of the community at large. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project has provided the opportunity for one PhD student and one PhD candidate as well as nine undergraduate students. Both graduate students have presented their research at their University and at professional conferences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been disseminated to the scientific and public health communities through publications, symposia, and conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We plan to continue genetic screening and psychophysical testing, both to expand the dataset in place and to broaden the search for genetic influence on perceptual differences in individuals and populations.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In pursuit of the psychogenomics of human taste, the sources of taste variability, and the influences of taste on human health, we have worked toward: 1) developing novel tools for assessing the psychogenomics of taste, 2) understanding the relationships among suprathreshold, absolute detection, and sensitivity functions of taste, which is necessary to understand the relationships among various common taste measures, 3) reviewing human taste evolution and the role it plays in guiding human food ingestion and digestion, 4) elucidating the role that human mood and affect play in reported taste perceptions, 5) demonstrating the role that taste plays in modulating respiratory reflexes, and 6) demonstrating the role that human genetics of the taste receptor TAS2R16 plays on taste perception. Specifically, during the current reporting period, we have identified and validated genetic mutations (SNPs) which correlate with atypical glutamate sensitivity and perception. We have found segments of the population which are hyposensitive and segments which are hypersensitive to the umami taste elicited by glutamate.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Wise, P.M. and Breslin, P.A. (2013) Individual differences in sour and salt sensitivity: Detection and quality recognition thresholds for citric acid and sodium. Chemical Senses, 38: 333-342. PMID: 23411310
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Breslin, P.A.S. (2013) An evolutionary perspective on food and human taste. Current Biology, 23, R409-R418. [Cover Article]. PMID: 23660364
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Platte, P., Herbert, C., Pauli, P., Breslin, P.A.S. (2013) Oral perceptions of fat and taste stimuli are modulated by affect and mood induction. PLoS One, 8, e65006. PMID: 23755167.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Wise, P.M., Breslin, P.A., Dalton, P. (2013) Effect of Taste Sensation on Cough Reflex Sensitivity.
Lung. 2013 Oct 31. PMID: 24173385
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Campbell, M.C., Ranciaro A., Zinshteyn, D., Rawlings-Goss, R., Hirbo, J., Thompson, S., Woldemeskel, D., Froment, A., Rucker, J.B., Omar, S.A., Bodo, J.M., Nyambo, T., Belay, G., Drayna, D.,Breslin, P.A., Tishkoff, S.A. (2013) Origin and Differential Selection of Allelic Variation at TAS2R16 Associated with Salicin Bitter Taste Sensitivity in Africa. (2013) Molecular Biology and Evolution. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 24177185
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Pre-absorptive insulin release to glutamate taste. Matthew C Kochem, Suzanne M Alarcon, Paul AS Breslin
1Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ, USA, 2Monell Chemical Senses Center Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Human Anticipatory Blood Pressure Responses to Oral NaCl and KCl are Different. Melissa A Murphy, Paul A.S. Breslin1
1Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ, USA, 2Monell Chemical Senses Center Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Effect of Oral Sensations on the Relief of Thirst. Catherine Peyrot des Gachons1, Julie Avrillier2, Laure Algarra3, Emi Mura4, Paul A.S. Breslin1,5
1Monell Chemical Senses Center Philadelphia, PA, USA,
2AgroSup Dijon Institut National Superieur Dijon, France, 3AgroParisTech Paris, France, 4Suntory Business Expert Ltd.
Kawasaki, Japan, 5Rutgers University Department of Nutritional Sciences New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Bitter taste similarities among heterozygous MZ twins compared with homozygous MZ twins. Suzie Alarcon1, Ashley Sharples1, Paul A. S. Breslin1,2 1Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick, NJ, USA, 2Monell Chemical Senses Center Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Glutamate Detection Thresholds Are Altered by the
Addition of 5-Ribonucleotides. Ashley A Sharples1, Suzie Alarcon1, Paul AS Breslin1,2 1Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ, USA, 2Monell Chemical Senses Center Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Mind and body-Understanding the connection between Neurobiology and Food Behavior. Paul Breslin, ILSI, January 21,2013 Miami
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Paul Breslin, MU Life Sciences and Society Program's Annual Symposium, Food Sense, March 17,2012 Why are the Senses Important to Digestion?
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We have investigated the heritability of umami taste sensitivity in several large Old Order Amish families comprised of 197 individuals in 9 pedigrees and in a single large family of Dutch heritage comprised of over 140 members who have been phenotyped as well as had their T1R genes genotyped. In addition, we have identified two novel stable umami perceptual traits in subjects that correspond with sensitivity to lactisole and clofibrate as umami taste inhibitors and to sensitivity to IMP and GMP as umami taste enhancers. We are currently pursuing variations in mGluR1, mGlur4 and NMDA receptors and their association with perceptual variation in umami taste. We have perceptually tested 400 subjects for umami, sweet, and salt sensitivity, as well performed SNP genotyping for two mutations in TAS1R1. We also conducted parallel studies of T2Rs in 1457 twins for bitter taste. We have also conducted a large-scale collaboration with Sarah Tishkoff at the University of Pennsylvania to study genetic and perceptual variation of TAS2R38 and PTC tasting in sub-Saharan Africans. We discovered several novel mutations in Africa that affect bitter taste perception. With collaborators at Integral Molecular, we have successfully cloned and functionally expressed TAS1R1 and TAS1R3. We have now successfully and reliably obtained calcium responses selectively to L-glutamate with IMP in HEK 293 cells, but not to D-glutamate. We have also successfully obtained responses to human TAS1R2-TAS1R3 receptors heterologously expressed into HEK293 cells to various sweeteners. And we have also expressed several TAS2R bitter taste receptors. We have spent the past year focusing on both the identification of inhibitors of these receptors that can be employed in human perceptual tests, as well as on the mutagenesis of receptors to understand the binding of agonists and inhibitors PARTICIPANTS: PI/PD: Paul S. S. Breslin - 100% of total efforts on this project. 20% Instructional activities, 65% Experiment Station Projects, 15% Service Activities Technician: Suzanne Alarcon - 80% of total efforts on this project Technician - Ashley Sharples - 100% of total efforts on this project Graduate Student - 50% of total efforts on this project Partner Organizations - Integral Molecular : With collaborators at Integral Molecular we have successfully cloned and functionally expressed TAS1R1 and TAS1R3. We have now successfully and reliably obtained calcium responses selectively to L-glutamate with IMP in HEK 293 cells but not to D-glutamate. We have also successfully obtained responses to human TAS1R2-TAS1R3 receptors heterologously expressed into HEK293 cells to various sweeteners. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include individuals, groups, market segments, or communities that were served by the project. Include population groups such as racial and ethnic minorities and those who are socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The majority of subjects find clofibrate a more effective umami taste inhibitor than lactisole. But some subjects vary reliably and, across entire concentration ranges of glutamate, find lactisole a more effective umami taste inhibitor than clofibrate. The pharmacological T1R inhibitor clofibrate reduces umami taste effectively around the 100 mM range. In addition, the majority of subjects find both of the nucleotides IMP and GMP effective umami taste enhancers. We have identified subjects who reliably find IMP an effective umami taste enhancer without any enhancing efficacy for GMP. The T1R genes of these subjects are also presently being fully sequenced and will be functionally expressed to determine if mutations in the receptor can account for these perceptual traits functionally. Variation in bitter taste response to quinine was significantly associated with a cluster of T2R genes on chromosome 12 with a heritability of 0.15. This finding was published in Human Molecular Genetics. Recently we have followed up with this trait in the Old Order Amish and have established a highly significant heritability of quinine bitterness ratings at several concentrations of quinine with heritability estimation across 9 families of 0.69, a remarkably high value. The group of 400 subjects were genotyped for sites in TAS2R1. A subset of subjects with the homozygous allele T/T at amino acid position 372 showed increased sensitivity to umami. This is supported by previous findings in the literature. Regarding inhibitors we have identified a novel inhibitor of TAS2R16 that appears to be a receptor specific inhibitor. In perceptual tests, it inhibits the bitterness of salicin in human subjects. This was the first human allosteric bitter taste inhibitor characterized at a perceptual and molecular level. Mutations were identified in the receptor that prevented inhibitor function without affecting ligand binding and activation. This was published in PLOS One.
Publications
- Mandel, A.L and Breslin, P.A.S. (2012). High endogenous salivary amylase activity is associated with improved glycemic homeostasis following starch ingestion in adults Journal of Nutrition, 142, 853-858. [Cover Article]. PMID 22492122
- Wise, P.M., Breslin, P.A., Dalton, P. (2012) Sweet taste and menthol increase cough reflex thresholds. Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics E-pub PMID: 22465565
- Peyrot des Gachons C., Mura, E, Speziale, C, Favreau, C.J, Dubreuil, G.F, Breslin, P.A.S. (2012) Opponency of astringent and fat sensations. Current Biology, 22, R829-R830.
- Coldwell, S., Mennella, J., Duffy, V., Pelchat, M., Griffith, J., Smutzer, G., Cowart, B., Breslin, P.A.S., Bartoshuk, L., Hastings, L., Victorson, D., Hoffman, H. (2012) Gustation assessment using the NIH toolbox. Neurology. In Press
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We have investigated the heritability of umami taste sensitivity in several large Old Order Amish families comprised of 197 individuals in 9 pedigrees and in a single large family of Dutch heritage comprised of over 140 members who have been phenotyped as well as had their T1R genes genotyped. In addition, we have identified two novel stable umami perceptual traits in subjects that correspond with sensitivity to lactisole and clofibrate as umami taste inhibitors and to sensitivity to IMP and GMP as umami taste enhancers. We are currently pursuing variations in mGluR1, mGluR4 and NMDA receptors and their association with perceptual variation in umami taste. We also conducted parallel studies of T2Rs in 1457 twins for bitter taste. We have also conducted a large-scale collaboration with Sarah Tishkoff at the University of Pennsylvania to study genetic and perceptual variation of TAS2R38 and PTC tasting in sub-Saharan Africans. We discovered several novel mutations in Africa that affect bitter taste perception. With collaborators at Integral Molecular, we have successfully cloned and functionally expressed TAS1R1 and TAS1R3. We have now successfully and reliably obtained calcium responses selectively to L-glutamate with IMP in HEK 293 cells but not to D-glutamate. We have also successfully obtained responses to human TAS1R2-TAS1R3 receptors heterologously expressed into HEK293 cells to various sweeteners. And we have also expressed several TAS2R bitter taste receptors. We have spent the past year focusing on both the identification of inhibitors of these receptors that can be employed in human perceptual tests, as well as on the mutagenesis of receptors to understand the binding of agonists and inhibitors. PARTICIPANTS: PI/PD: Paul S. S. Breslin - 100% of total efforts on this project. 20% Instructional activities, 65% Experiment Station Projects, 15% Service Activities. Technician: Suzanne Alarcon - 80% of total efforts on this project. Technician - Ashley Sharples - 100% of total efforts on this project. Graduate Student (Training) - 50% of total efforts on this project. Partner Organizations - Integral Molecular : With collaborators at Integral Molecular we have successfully cloned and functionally expressed TAS1R1 and TAS1R3. We have now successfully and reliably obtained calcium responses selectively to L-glutamate with IMP in HEK 293 cells but not to D-glutamate. We have also successfully obtained responses to human TAS1R2-TAS1R3 receptors heterologously expressed into HEK293 cells to various sweeteners. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The majority of subjects find clofibrate a more effective umami taste inhibitor than lactisole. But some subjects vary reliably and across entire concentration ranges of glutamate find lactisole a more effective umami taste inhibitor than clofibrate. The pharmacological T1R inhibitor clofibrate reduces umami taste effectively around the 100 mM range. In addition, the majority of subjects find both of the nucleotides IMP and GMP effective umami taste enhancers. We have identified subjects who reliably find IMP an effective umami taste enhancer without any enhancing efficacy for GMP. The T1R genes of these subjects are also presently being fully sequenced and will be functionally expressed to determine if mutations in the receptor can account for these perceptual traits functionally. Variation in bitter taste response to quinine was significantly associated with a cluster of T2R genes on chromosome 12 with a heritability of 0.15. This finding was published in Human Molecular Genetics. Recently we have followed up with this trait in the Old Order Amish and have established a highly significant heritability of quinine bitterness ratings at several concentrations of quinine with heritability estimation across 9 families of 0.69, a remarkably high value. Regarding inhibitors we have identified a novel inhibitor of TAS2R16 that appears to be a receptor specific inhibitor. In perceptual tests, it inhibits the bitterness of salicin in human subjects. This was the first human allosteric bitter taste inhibitor characterized at a perceptual and molecular level. Mutations were identified in the receptor that prevented inhibitor function without affecting ligand binding and activation. This was published in PLOS One.
Publications
- Peyrot des Gachons, C., G.K. Beauchamp, R.M. Stern, K.L. Koch, P.A.S. Breslin (2011). Bitter taste induces nausea. Current Biology, 21, R247-248 PMID 21481757 [Cover Article]
- Wise, P. and P.A.S. Breslin (2011). Relationships among taste qualities assessed with response-context effects. Chemical Senses, Published Online. PMID: 21441368
- Ozdener, M.H., J.G. Brand, A. Spielman, F.G. Lischka, J.H. Teeter, P.A.S. Breslin, N.E. Rawson (2011). Characterization of human fungiform papillae cells in culture. Chemical Senses, Published Online. PMID: 21471186 [Cover Article]
- Greene, T.A., Alarcon, S., Thomas, A., Berdougo, E., Doranz, B.J., Breslin, P.A.S., and Rucker, J.B. (2011) Probenecid inhibits the human bitter taste receptor TAS2R16 and suppresses bitter perception of salicin. PLOS One, 6: e20123. PMID 21629661
- Peyrot des Gachons, C., K. Uchida, B. Bryant, A. Shima, J.B. Sperry, L. Dankulich-Nagrudny, M. Tominaga, A.B. Smith, III, G.K. Beauchamp, P.A.S. Breslin (2011). Unusual pungency from extra-virgin olive oil is due to restricted spatial expression of oleocanthal's receptor. Journal of Neuroscience, 31: 999-1009. NIHMS 250787 [Cover Article]
- Campbell, M.C., Ranciaro, A., Froment, A., Hirbo, J., Omar, S., Bodo, J.-M., Nyambo, T., Lema, G., Zinshteyn, D., Drayna, D., Breslin, P.A.S., and Tishkoff, S.A. (2011). Evolution of functionally diverse alleles associated with PTC bitter taste sensitivity in Africa. Molecular Biology and Evolution. E-pub PMID 22130969
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We continue to test families in the Old Order Amish community of Lancaster PA for sensitivity to MSG. Subjects discriminate MSG from NaCl in 24 triangle tests. Subjects are also tested for MSG suprathreshold ratings and for synergy with MPG plus IMP and MPG plus GMP. We have now tested nine large pedigrees from Old Order Amish in Lancaster county. These families include 168 members who have been tested with glutamate and NaCl in a discrimination test as well as obtaining a concentration-intensity function from these 168 subjects. We are now in the process of analyzing this large data set. In addition, we are also beginning to examine the capacity of fibrate compounds to inhibit T1R receptors including sweet and umami taste receptors. The fibrates are structurally related to the T1R3 inhibitor lactisole but differ in its efficacy as an inhibitor and promise to be more specific and effective as umami taste inhibitors. PARTICIPANTS: Paul A. S. Breslin, PhD - Principal Investigator/ Project Director. Joseph Rucker, PhD - Co-PI/PD Suzanne Alarcon - Lab Manager, Research Specialist TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
With collaborators at Integral Molecular we have successfully cloned and functionally expressed TAS1R1 and TAS1R3. We have now successfully and reliably obtained calcium responses selectively to L-glutamate with IMP in HEK 293 cells but not to D-glutamate. We have also successfully obtained responses to human TAS1R2-TAS1R3 receptors heterologously expressed into HEK293 cells to various sweeteners. And we have also successfully expressed several TAS2R bitter taste receptors. We have spent the past year focusing on both the identification of inhibitors of these receptors that can be employed in human perceptual tests as well as on the mutagenesis of receptors to understand the binding of agonists and inhibitors. Regarding inhibitors we have identified a novel inhibitor of TAS2R16 that appears to be a receptor specific inhibitor. In perceptual tests, it also inhibits the bitterness of salicin in human subjects. Our understanding of umami taste has two potential influences on health. First, umami taste has the capacity to positively influence the taste of foods when in an appropriate context and therefore to positively influence what we eat, including a healthy diet. Second, energy-protein malnutrition (kwashiorkor) is one of leading causes of death among children in developing countries. These children have been found to evaluate umami foods as more much more desirable than other tastes when in the protein malnourished condition. Thus, their bodies seem to have the wisdom to tell them to eat amino acids and proteins. This is an important and poorly understood phenomenon.
Publications
- Feng, P., Wang, H., Feldman, R.S., Pribitkin, E.A., P.A.S. Breslin (2010). The T Cells in peripheral taste tissue of healthy human adults: Predominant Memory T Cells and Th-1 cells. Chemical Senses, 35, 501- 509. PMID:20457570.
- Reed, D.R., G. Zhu, P.A.S. Breslin, F.F. Duke, A.K. Henders, M.J. Campbell, G.W. Montgomery, S.E. Medland, N.G. Martin, M.J. Wright (2010). The perception of quinine taste intensity is associated with common genetic variants in a bitter receptor cluster on chromosome 12. Hum Mol Genet. 2010 E-Pub. PMID: 20675712
- Mandel AL, C. Peyrot des Gachons, K.L. Plank, S. Alarcon, P.A.S. Breslin (2010). Individual Differences in AMY1 Gene Copy Number, Salivary alpha-Amylase Levels, and the Perception of Oral Starch. PLoS One, 13, 5(10), e13352. PMID: 20967220
- Veldhuizen, M.G., J. Albrecht, C. Zelano, S. Boesveldt, P.A.S. Breslin, and J.N. Lundstrom (2010). Identification of human gustatory cortex by Activation Likelihood Estimation. Human Brain Mapping, In Press.
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