Human receptors for sweet and umami taste

2002/03/26 by Xiaodong Li, Lena Staszewski, Hong Xu +3 · 11 citations
Nursing · Neuroscience · Engineering · #Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques #Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies #Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies

paper · doi:10.1073/pnas.072090199

openalex publication_date 2002/03/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03

Abstract

The three members of the T1R class of taste-specific G protein-coupled receptors have been hypothesized to function in combination as heterodimeric sweet taste receptors. Here we show that human T1R2/T1R3 recognizes diverse natural and synthetic sweeteners. In contrast, human T1R1/T1R3 responds to the umami taste stimulus l-glutamate, and this response is enhanced by 5'-ribonucleotides, a hallmark of umami taste. The ligand specificities of rat T1R2/T1R3 and T1R1/T1R3 correspond to those of their human counterparts. These findings implicate the T1Rs in umami taste and suggest that sweet and umami taste receptors share a common subunit.

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• Massive Losses of Taste Receptor Genes in Toothed and Baleen Whales
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• Aspartame [wikipedia]
• Sweetness [wikipedia]