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Liu S, Shi T, Yu J, Li R, Lin H, Deng K. Research on Bitter Peptides in the Field of Bioinformatics: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9844. [PMID: 39337334 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25189844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2024] [Revised: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Bitter peptides are small molecular peptides produced by the hydrolysis of proteins under acidic, alkaline, or enzymatic conditions. These peptides can enhance food flavor and offer various health benefits, with attributes such as antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and immune-regulating properties. They show significant potential in the development of functional foods and the prevention and treatment of diseases. This review introduces the diverse sources of bitter peptides and discusses the mechanisms of bitterness generation and their physiological functions in the taste system. Additionally, it emphasizes the application of bioinformatics in bitter peptide research, including the establishment and improvement of bitter peptide databases, the use of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models to predict bitterness thresholds, and the latest advancements in classification prediction models built using machine learning and deep learning algorithms for bitter peptide identification. Future research directions include enhancing databases, diversifying models, and applying generative models to advance bitter peptide research towards deepening and discovering more practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanghua Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Tianyu Shi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Junwen Yu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Rui Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Hao Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Kejun Deng
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
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Hu J, Han Y, Luo A, Zhang H, Tian L, Cai H, Xue B, Lai R, Luo L. Gating elements for carvacrol activation of the OTOP1 proton channel. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1106. [PMID: 39251752 PMCID: PMC11384762 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06818-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Otopetrin 1 (OTOP1) is a proton-activated channel crucial for animals' perception of sour taste. Despite its significance, the gating mechanism of OTOP1 remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that carvacrol activates the mouse OTOP1 (mOTOP1) channel under neutral and acidic conditions. Functional analysis showed that carvacrol enhances pH fluorescence signals in OTOP1-expressing cells, with reduced efficacy at lower pH levels. Carvacrol selectively activates mOTOP1, while mOTOP2, mOTOP3, and Chelonia mydas OTOP1 (CmOTOP1) are insensitive to carvacrol activation under neutral pH. Through chimera and point mutation experiments, swapping S134 in transmembrane segment 3 (TM3) and T247 in the TM5-6 linker abolished carvacrol activation of mOTOP1 and conferred activation on CmOTOP1, suggesting these two residues are critical for carvacrol sensitivity. These findings highlight TM3 and TM5-6 linker as pivotal gating apparatus of OTOP1 channels and potential docking sites for drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingmei Hu
- Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Sino-African Joint Research Center, and New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yalan Han
- Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Sino-African Joint Research Center, and New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Anna Luo
- Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Sino-African Joint Research Center, and New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Sino-African Joint Research Center, and New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lifeng Tian
- Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Sino-African Joint Research Center, and New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Huajun Cai
- Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Sino-African Joint Research Center, and New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Beiru Xue
- Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Sino-African Joint Research Center, and New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Sino-African Joint Research Center, and New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Lei Luo
- Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Sino-African Joint Research Center, and New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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3
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Mikami A, Huang H, Hyodo A, Horie K, Yasumatsu K, Ninomiya Y, Mitoh Y, Iida S, Yoshida R. The role of GABA in modulation of taste signaling within the taste bud. Pflugers Arch 2024:10.1007/s00424-024-03007-x. [PMID: 39210062 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-024-03007-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Taste buds contain 2 types of GABA-producing cells: sour-responsive Type III cells and glial-like Type I cells. The physiological role of GABA, released by Type III cells is not fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of GABA released from Type III cells using transgenic mice lacking the expression of GAD67 in taste bud cells (Gad67-cKO mice). Immunohistochemical experiments confirmed the absence of GAD67 in Type III cells of Gad67-cKO mice. Furthermore, no difference was observed in the expression and localization of cell type markers, ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 2 (ENTPD2), gustducin, and carbonic anhydrase 4 (CA4) in taste buds between wild-type (WT) and Gad67-cKO mice. Short-term lick tests demonstrated that both WT and Gad67-cKO mice exhibited normal licking behaviors to each of the five basic tastants. Gustatory nerve recordings from the chorda tympani nerve demonstrated that both WT and Gad67-cKO mice similarly responded to five basic tastants when they were applied individually. However, gustatory nerve responses to sweet-sour mixtures were significantly smaller than the sum of responses to each tastant in WT mice but not in Gad67-cKO mice. In summary, elimination of GABA signalling by sour-responsive Type III taste cells eliminates the inhibitory cell-cell interactions seen with application of sour-sweet mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayaka Mikami
- Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hai Huang
- Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Aiko Hyodo
- Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kengo Horie
- Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1, Shikata-Cho, Kita-Ku, Okayama, 700-8525, Japan
| | | | - Yuzo Ninomiya
- Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
- Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yoshihiro Mitoh
- Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1, Shikata-Cho, Kita-Ku, Okayama, 700-8525, Japan
| | - Seiji Iida
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1, Shikata-Cho, Kita-Ku, Okayama, 700-8525, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Yoshida
- Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1, Shikata-Cho, Kita-Ku, Okayama, 700-8525, Japan.
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4
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Sasaki O, Yano-Nashimoto S, Yamaguchi S. A proton channel, Otopetrin 1 (OTOP1) is N-glycosylated at two asparagine residues in third extracellular loop. J Cell Physiol 2024:e31403. [PMID: 39129225 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
A proton (H+) channel, Otopetrin 1 (OTOP1) is an acid sensor in the sour taste receptor cells. Although OTOP1 is known to be activated by extracellular acid, no posttranslational modification of OTOP1 has been reported. As one of the posttranslational modifications, glycosylation is known to modulate many ion channels. In this study, we investigated whether OTOP1 is glycosylated and how the glycosylation affects OTOP1 function. Pharmacological and enzymatic examinations (using an N-glycosylation inhibitor, tunicamycin and peptide: N-glycanase F [PNGase F]) revealed that overexpressed mouse OTOP1 was N-glycosylated. As the N-glycans were Endoglycosidase H (Endo H)-sensitive, they were most likely high-mannose type. A site-directed mutagenesis approach revealed that both two asparagine residues (N238 and N251) in the third extracellular loop between the fifth transmembrane region and the sixth transmembrane region (L5-6) were the glycosylation sites. Prevention of the glycosylations by the mutations of the asparagine residues or by tunicamycin treatment diminished the whole-cell OTOP1 current densities. The results of cell surface biotinylation assay showed that the prevention of the glycosylations reduced the surface expression of OTOP1 at the plasma membrane. These results indicate that mouse OTOP1 is N-glycosylated at N238 and N251, and that the glycosylations are necessary for OTOP1 to show the maximum degree of H+ current densities at the plasma membrane through promoting its targeting to the plasma membrane. These findings on glycosylations of OTOP1 will be a part of a comprehensive understanding on the regulations of OTOP1 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omi Sasaki
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Saori Yano-Nashimoto
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Soichiro Yamaguchi
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
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5
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Roelse M, Krasteva N, Pawlizak S, Mai MK, Jongsma MA. Tongue-on-a-Chip: Parallel Recording of Sweet and Bitter Receptor Responses to Sequential Injections of Pure and Mixed Sweeteners. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:15854-15864. [PMID: 38951504 PMCID: PMC11261611 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
A microfluidic tongue-on-a-chip platform has been evaluated relative to the known sensory properties of various sweeteners. Analogous metrics of typical sensory features reported by human panels such as sweet taste thresholds, onset, and lingering, as well as bitter off-flavor and blocking interactions were deduced from the taste receptor activation curves and then compared. To this end, a flow cell containing a receptor cell array bearing the sweet and six bitter taste receptors was transiently exposed to pure and mixed sweetener samples. The sample concentration gradient across time was separately characterized by the injection of fluorescein dye. Subsequently, cellular calcium responses to different doses of advantame, aspartame, saccharine, and sucrose were overlaid with the concentration gradient. Parameters describing the response kinetics compared to the gradient were quantified. Advantame at 15 μM recorded a significantly faster sweetness onset of 5 ± 2 s and a longer lingering time of 39 s relative to sucrose at 100 mM with an onset of 13 ± 2 s and a lingering time of 6 s. Saccharine was shown to activate the bitter receptors TAS2R8, TAS2R31, and TAS2R43, confirming its known off-flavor, whereas addition of cyclamate reduced or blocked this saccharine bitter response. The potential of using this tongue-on-a-chip to bridge the gap with in vitro assays and taste panels is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margriet Roelse
- BU
Bioscience, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nadejda Krasteva
- Stuttgart
Laboratory 2, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Europe, Sony Europe B.V., Zweigniederlassung Deutschland,
Hedelfinger Str. 61, 70327 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Steve Pawlizak
- Stuttgart
Laboratory 2, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Europe, Sony Europe B.V., Zweigniederlassung Deutschland,
Hedelfinger Str. 61, 70327 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Michaela K. Mai
- Stuttgart
Laboratory 2, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Europe, Sony Europe B.V., Zweigniederlassung Deutschland,
Hedelfinger Str. 61, 70327 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Maarten A. Jongsma
- BU
Bioscience, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
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6
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Brandt T, Dieterich M, Huppert D. Human senses and sensors from Aristotle to the present. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1404720. [PMID: 39022724 PMCID: PMC11252028 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1404720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This historical review on the semantic evolution of human senses and sensors revealed that Aristotle's list of the five senses sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell is still in use among non-scientific lay persons. It is no surprise that his classification in the work "De Anima" (On the Soul) from 350 BC confuses the sensor "touch" with the now more comprehensively defined somatosensory system and that senses are missing such as the later discovered vestibular system and the musculotendinous proprioception of the position of parts of the body in space. However, it is surprising that in the three most influential ancient cultures, Egypt, Greece, and China-which shaped the history of civilization-the concept prevailed that the heart rather than the brain processes perception, cognition, and emotions. This "cardiocentric view" can be traced back to the "Doctrine of Aristotle," the "Book of the Dead" in ancient Egypt, and the traditional Chinese medicine of correspondence documented in the book "Huang di Neijing." In Greek antiquity the philosophers Empedocles, Democritus and Aristotle were proponents of the allocation of the spirit and the soul to the heart connected to the body via the blood vessels. Opponents were the pre-Socratic mathematician Pythagoras, the philosopher Plato, and especially the Greek physician Hippocrates who regarded the brain as the most powerful organ in humans in his work "De Morbo Sacro." The Greek physician Galen of Pergamon further elaborated on the concept of the brain ("cephalocentric hypothesis") connected to the body by a network of nerves. The fundamental concepts for understanding functions and disorders of the vestibular system, the perception of self-motion, verticality and balance control were laid by a remarkable group of 19th century scientists including Purkynӗ, Mach, Breuer, Helmholtz, and Crum-Brown. It was also in the 19th century that Bell described a new sense of a reciprocal sensorimotor loop between the brain and the muscles which he called "muscular sense," later termed "kinaesthesia" by Bastian and defined in 1906 as "proprioception" by Sherrington as "the perception of joint and body movements as well as position of the body or body segments, in space." Both, the vestibular system and proprioception could be acknowledged as senses six or seven. However, we hesitate to recommend "pain"-which is variously assigned to the somatosensory system or extero-, intero-, visceroception-as a separate sensory system. Pain sensors are often not specific but have multisensory functions. Because of this inconsistent, partly contradictory classification even by experts in the current literature on senses and sensors we consider it justified to recommend a comprehensive reorganization of classification features according to the present state of knowledge with an expansion of the number of senses. Such a project has also to include the frequent task-dependent multisensory interactions for perceptual and sensorimotor achievements, and higher functions or disorders of the visual and vestibular systems as soon as cognition or emotions come into play. This requires a cooperation of sensory physiologists, neuroscientists and experienced physicians involved in the management of patients with sensory and multisensory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Brandt
- German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marianne Dieterich
- German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Doreen Huppert
- German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
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7
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Morini G. The taste for health: the role of taste receptors and their ligands in the complex food/health relationship. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1396393. [PMID: 38873558 PMCID: PMC11169839 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1396393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Taste, food, and health are terms that have since always accompanied the act of eating, but the association was simple: taste serves to classify a food as good or bad and therefore influences food choices, which determine the nutritional status and therefore health. The identification of taste receptors, particularly, the G protein-coupled receptors that mediate sweet, umami, and bitter tastes, in the gastrointestinal tract has assigned them much more relevant tasks, from nutrient sensing and hormone release to microbiota composition and immune response and finally to a rationale for the gut-brain axis. Particularly interesting are bitter taste receptors since most of the times they do not mediate macronutrients (energy). The relevant roles of bitter taste receptors in the gut indicate that they could become new drug targets and their ligands new medications or components in nutraceutical formulations. Traditional knowledge from different cultures reported that bitterness intensity was an indicator for distinguishing plants used as food from those used as medicine, and many non-cultivated plants were used to control glucose level and treat diabetes, modulate hunger, and heal gastrointestinal disorders caused by pathogens and parasites. This concept represents a means for the scientific integration of ancient wisdom with advanced medicine, constituting a possible boost for more sustainable food and functional food innovation and design.
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8
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Sağsöz ME, Sağlam B, Arslan K, Baştuğ T, Çavuş M, Puralı N. Structural, Functional and Molecular Dynamics Examination of a de novo cloned Otopetrin-like Proton Channel in crayfish. Cell Biochem Biophys 2024:10.1007/s12013-024-01310-z. [PMID: 38811473 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-024-01310-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Proton channels play a crucial role in many biological functions, as they are responsible for the selective transport of protons across cell membranes. Recently, Otopetrins, a family of eukaryotic proton-selective ion channels, have attracted significant attention due to their diverse physiological roles. Despite the importance of Otopetrins, their structural and functional properties remain relatively unexplored. As a model organism, crayfish have been extensively studied to gain insights into the functioning of the nervous system. These studies cover a wide range of aspects, including the properties of individual neurons and behavioral science. However, studying the physiological systems of crayfish poses challenges for molecular research due to limited molecular sequence information available for these organisms. In the present work was identified an originally cloned mRNA, coding an Otopetrin like proton channel in the crayfish. The coded protein was modeled in silico and possible conduction mechanisms and pathways were revealed. A plasmid of the cloned mRNA was heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells. Functional experiments on transfected cells indicated that the expressed mRNA was coupled to proton conduction across the cell membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Erdem Sağsöz
- Biophysics Department, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
- Biophysics Department, Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Türkiye
| | - Berk Sağlam
- Biophysics Department, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Kaan Arslan
- Biophysics Department, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Turgut Baştuğ
- Biophysics Department, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Murat Çavuş
- Bozok University, Faculty of Education, Mathematics and Science Education, Yozgat, Türkiye
| | - Nuhan Puralı
- Biophysics Department, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye.
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9
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Egan JM. Physiological Integration of Taste and Metabolism. N Engl J Med 2024; 390:1699-1710. [PMID: 38718360 DOI: 10.1056/nejmra2304578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Josephine M Egan
- From the Diabetes Section, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore
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10
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Hoyer J, Kolar K, Athira A, van den Burgh M, Dondorp D, Liang Z, Chatzigeorgiou M. Polymodal sensory perception drives settlement and metamorphosis of Ciona larvae. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1168-1182.e7. [PMID: 38335959 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The Earth's oceans brim with an incredible diversity of microscopic lifeforms, including motile planktonic larvae, whose survival critically depends on effective dispersal in the water column and subsequent exploration of the seafloor to identify a suitable settlement site. How their nervous systems mediate sensing of diverse multimodal cues remains enigmatic. Here, we uncover that the tunicate Ciona intestinalis larvae employ ectodermal sensory cells to sense various mechanical and chemical cues. Combining whole-brain imaging and chemogenetics, we demonstrate that stimuli encoded at the periphery are sufficient to drive global brain-state changes to promote or impede both larval attachment and metamorphosis behaviors. The ability of C. intestinalis larvae to leverage polymodal sensory perception to support information coding and chemotactile behaviors may explain how marine larvae make complex decisions despite streamlined nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorgen Hoyer
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Kushal Kolar
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Athira Athira
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Meike van den Burgh
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Daniel Dondorp
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Zonglai Liang
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Marios Chatzigeorgiou
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway.
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11
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Taruno A. Shared gustatory sensor for acids and ammonium. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:163-164. [PMID: 38071122 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2024]
Abstract
In a recent study, Liang, Wilson, and colleagues demonstrated that the H+-selective ion channel OTOP1, responsible for sour taste transduction, also functions as a gustatory sensor for ammonium in mice. Additionally, this research revealed a novel mode of channel activation by intracellular alkalinization, which is conserved across vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiyuki Taruno
- Department of Molecular Cell Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
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Landon SM, Baker K, Macpherson LJ. Give-and-take of gustation: the interplay between gustatory neurons and taste buds. Chem Senses 2024; 49:bjae029. [PMID: 39078723 PMCID: PMC11315769 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjae029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammalian taste buds are highly regenerative and can restore themselves after normal wear and tear of the lingual epithelium or following physical and chemical insults, including burns, chemotherapy, and nerve injury. This is due to the continual proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of taste progenitor cells, which then must reconnect with peripheral gustatory neurons to relay taste signals to the brain. The turnover and re-establishment of peripheral taste synapses are vital to maintain this complex sensory system. Over the past several decades, the signal transduction and neurotransmitter release mechanisms within taste cells have been well delineated. However, the complex dynamics between synaptic partners in the tongue (taste cell and gustatory neuron) are only partially understood. In this review, we highlight recent findings that have improved our understanding of the mechanisms governing connectivity and signaling within the taste bud and the still-unresolved questions regarding the complex interactions between taste cells and gustatory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Landon
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Kimberly Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, United States
- 59th Medical Wing: Surgical and Technological Advancements for Traumatic Injuries in Combat: 204 Wagner Ave, San Antonio, TX 78211, United States
| | - Lindsey J Macpherson
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Brain Health Consortium, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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Pandey P, Shrestha B, Lee Y. Acid and Alkali Taste Sensation. Metabolites 2023; 13:1131. [PMID: 37999227 PMCID: PMC10673112 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13111131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Living organisms rely on pH levels for a multitude of crucial biological processes, such as the digestion of food and the facilitation of enzymatic reactions. Among these organisms, animals, including insects, possess specialized taste organs that enable them to discern between acidic and alkaline substances present in their food sources. This ability is vital, as the pH of these compounds directly influences both the nutritional value and the overall health impact of the ingested substances. In response to the various chemical properties of naturally occurring compounds, insects have evolved peripheral taste organs. These sensory structures play a pivotal role in identifying and distinguishing between nourishing and potentially harmful foods. In this concise review, we aim to provide an in-depth examination of the molecular mechanisms governing pH-dependent taste responses, encompassing both acidic and alkaline stimuli, within the peripheral taste organs of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, drawing insights from a comprehensive analysis of existing research articles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Youngseok Lee
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea; (P.P.); (B.S.)
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