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Elucidation of mammalian bitter taste

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Book cover Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology

Part of the book series: Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology ((REVIEWS,volume 154))

Abstract

A family of approximately 30 TAS2R bitter taste receptors has been identified in mammals. Their genes evolved through adaptive diversification and are linked to chromosomal loci known to influence bitter taste in mice and humans. The agonists for various TAS2Rs have been identified and all of them were established as bitter tastants. TAS2Rs are broadly tuned to detect multiple bitter substances, explaining, in part, how mammals can recognize numerous bitter compounds with a limited set of receptors. The TAS2Rs are expressed in a subset of taste receptor cells, which are distinct from those mediating responses to other taste qualities. However, cells devoted to the detection of sweet, umami, and bitter stimuli share common signal transduction components. Transgenic expression of a human TAS2R in sweet or bitter taste receptor-expressing cells of mice induced either strong attraction or aversion to the receptor’s cognate bitter tastant. Thus, dedicated taste receptor cells appear to function as broadly tuned detectors for bitter substances and are wired to elicit aversive behavior.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Dr. M. Behrens (Potsdam) for providing Fig. 2 and for helpful comments on the manuscript. The editorial assistance of Mrs. M. Lorse is also gratefully acknowledged. Original work carried out in the author’s laboratory and referred to here was supported by a grant from the German Science Foundation (Me 1024/2–2).

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  1. Department of Molecular Genetics, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114–116, 14558, Nuthetal, Germany

    Wolfgang Meyerhof

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Meyerhof, W. (2005). Elucidation of mammalian bitter taste. In: Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology. Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, vol 154. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10254-005-0041-0

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