Human receptors for sweet and umami taste

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Apr 2;99(7):4692-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.072090199. Epub 2002 Mar 26.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Glutamic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Guanosine Monophosphate / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Inosine Monophosphate / pharmacology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / chemistry
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled*
  • Taste / physiology*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • taste receptors, type 1
  • Inosine Monophosphate
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Guanosine Monophosphate
  • GTP-Binding Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF456324
  • GENBANK/AL139287
  • GENBANK/AL159177
  • GENBANK/BK000151
  • GENBANK/BK000152
  • GENBANK/BK000153