1
|
Chen X, Luo N, Guo C, Luo J, Wei J, Zhang N, Yin X, Feng X, Wang X, Cao J. Current trends and perspectives on salty and salt taste-enhancing peptides: A focus on preparation, evaluation and perception mechanisms of salt taste. Food Res Int 2024; 190:114593. [PMID: 38945609 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114593] [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: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Long-term excessive intake of sodium negatively impacts human health. Effective strategies to reduce sodium content in foods include the use of salty and salt taste-enhancing peptides, which can reduce sodium intake without compromising the flavor or salt taste. Salty and salt taste-enhancing peptides naturally exist in various foods and predominantly manifest as short-chain peptides consisting of < 10 amino acids. These peptides are primarily produced through chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis methods, purified, and identified using ultrafiltration + gel filtration chromatography + liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. This study reviews the latest developments in these purification and identification technologies, and discusses methods to evaluate their effectiveness in saltiness perception. Additionally, the study explores four biological channels potentially involved in saltiness perception (epithelial sodium channel, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), and transmembrane channel-like 4 (TMC4)), with the latter three primarily functioning under high sodium levels. Among the channels, salty taste-enhancing peptides, such as γ-glutamyl peptides, may co-activate the CaSR channel with calcium ions to participate in saltiness perception. Salty taste-enhancing peptides with negatively charged amino acid side chains or terminal groups may replace chloride ions and activate the TMC4 channel, contributing to saltiness perception. Finally, the study discusses the feasibility of using these peptides from the perspectives of food material constraints, processing adaptability, multifunctional application, and cross-modal interaction while emphasizing the importance of utilizing computational technology. This review provides a reference for advancing the development and application of salty and salt-enhancing peptides as sodium substitutes in low-sodium food formulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China; Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Green Food Processing, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China
| | - Na Luo
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China; Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Green Food Processing, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China
| | - Chaofan Guo
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China; Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Green Food Processing, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China
| | - Junhua Luo
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China; Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Green Food Processing, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China
| | - Jianping Wei
- College of Food Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, PR China
| | - Nianwen Zhang
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China; Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Green Food Processing, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China
| | - Xiaoyu Yin
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China; Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Green Food Processing, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China
| | - Xianchao Feng
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Xuejiao Wang
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China; Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Green Food Processing, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China.
| | - Jianxin Cao
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China; Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Green Food Processing, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Roussa E, Juda P, Laue M, Mai-Kolerus O, Meyerhof W, Sjöblom M, Nikolovska K, Seidler U, Kilimann MW. LRBA, a BEACH protein mutated in human immune deficiency, is widely expressed in epithelia, exocrine and endocrine glands, and neurons. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10678. [PMID: 38724551 PMCID: PMC11082223 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60257-6] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in LRBA, a BEACH domain protein, cause severe immune deficiency in humans. LRBA is expressed in many tissues and organs according to biochemical analysis, but little is known about its cellular and subcellular localization, and its deficiency phenotype outside the immune system. By LacZ histochemistry of Lrba gene-trap mice, we performed a comprehensive survey of LRBA expression in numerous tissues, detecting it in many if not all epithelia, in exocrine and endocrine cells, and in subpopulations of neurons. Immunofluorescence microscopy of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas, salivary glands, and intestinal segments, confirmed these patterns of cellular expression and provided information on the subcellular localizations of the LRBA protein. Immuno-electron microscopy demonstrated that in neurons and endocrine cells, which co-express LRBA and its closest relative, neurobeachin, both proteins display partial association with endomembranes in complementary, rather than overlapping, subcellular distributions. Prominent manifestations of human LRBA deficiency, such as inflammatory bowel disease or endocrinopathies, are believed to be primarily due to immune dysregulation. However, as essentially all affected tissues also express LRBA, it is possible that LRBA deficiency enhances their vulnerability and contributes to the pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Roussa
- Department Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Pavel Juda
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Leukocyte Motility Lab, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University of Prague, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Laue
- Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS 4), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Mai-Kolerus
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Institute for Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Germany
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Meyerhof
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Institute for Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Germany
- Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sjöblom
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Katerina Nikolovska
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectiology and Endocrinology, Medical University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ursula Seidler
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectiology and Endocrinology, Medical University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Manfred W Kilimann
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kumar P, Redel U, Lang T, Korsching SI, Behrens M. Bitter taste receptors of the zebra finch ( Taeniopygia guttata). Front Physiol 2023; 14:1233711. [PMID: 37860623 PMCID: PMC10582322 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1233711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the important role of bitter taste for the rejection of potentially harmful food sources, birds have long been suspected to exhibit inferior bitter tasting abilities. Although more recent reports on the bitter recognition spectra of several bird species have cast doubt about the validity of this assumption, the bitter taste of avian species is still an understudied field. Previously, we reported the bitter activation profiles of three zebra finch receptors Tas2r5, -r6, and -r7, which represent orthologs of a single chicken bitter taste receptor, Tas2r1. In order to get a better understanding of the bitter tasting capabilities of zebra finches, we selected another Tas2r gene of this species that is similar to another chicken Tas2r. Using functional calcium mobilization experiments, we screened zebra finch Tas2r1 with 72 bitter compounds and observed responses for 7 substances. Interestingly, all but one of the newly identified bitter agonists were different from those previously identified for Tas2r5, -r6, and -r7 suggesting that the newly investigated receptor fills important gaps in the zebra finch bitter recognition profile. The most potent bitter agonist found in our study is cucurbitacin I, a highly toxic natural bitter substance. We conclude that zebra finch exhibits an exquisitely developed bitter taste with pronounced cucurbitacin I sensitivity suggesting a prominent ecological role of this compound for zebra finch.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Kumar
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Ulrike Redel
- German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Tatjana Lang
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | | | - Maik Behrens
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Salt taste, the taste of sodium chloride (NaCl), is mechanistically one of the most complex and puzzling among basic tastes. Sodium has essential functions in the body but causes harm in excess. Thus, animals use salt taste to ingest the right amount of salt, which fluctuates by physiological needs: typically, attraction to low salt concentrations and rejection of high salt. This concentration-valence relationship is universally observed in terrestrial animals, and research has revealed complex peripheral codes for NaCl involving multiple taste pathways of opposing valence. Sodium-dependent and -independent pathways mediate attraction and aversion to NaCl, respectively. Gustatory sensors and cells that transduce NaCl have been uncovered, along with downstream signal transduction and neurotransmission mechanisms. However, much remains unknown. This article reviews classical and recent advances in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying salt taste in mammals and insects and discusses perspectives on human salt taste.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akiyuki Taruno
- Department of Molecular Cell Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; .,Japan Science and Technology Agency, CREST, Saitama, Japan
| | - Michael D Gordon
- Department of Zoology and Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Santollo J, Daniels D, Leshem M, Schulkin J. Sex Differences in Salt Appetite: Perspectives from Animal Models and Human Studies. Nutrients 2023; 15:208. [PMID: 36615865 PMCID: PMC9824138 DOI: 10.3390/nu15010208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Salt ingestion by animals and humans has been noted from prehistory. The search for salt is largely driven by a physiological need for sodium. There is a large body of literature on sodium intake in laboratory rats, but the vast majority of this work has used male rats. The limited work conducted in both male and female rats, however, reveals sex differences in sodium intake. Importantly, while humans ingest salt every day, with every meal and with many foods, we do not know how many of these findings from rodent studies can be generalized to men and women. This review provides a synthesis of the literature that examines sex differences in sodium intake and highlights open questions. Sodium serves many important physiological functions and is inextricably linked to the maintenance of body fluid homeostasis. Indeed, from a motivated behavior perspective, the drive to consume sodium has largely been studied in conjunction with the study of thirst. This review will describe the neuroendocrine controls of fluid balance, mechanisms underlying sex differences, sex differences in sodium intake, changes in sodium intake during pregnancy, and the possible neuronal mechanisms underlying these differences in behavior. Having reviewed the mechanisms that can only be studied in animal experiments, we address sex differences in human dietary sodium intake in reproduction, and with age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Santollo
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Derek Daniels
- Department of Biology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Micah Leshem
- School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Jay Schulkin
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kasahara Y, Narukawa M, Takeuchi A, Tominaga M, Abe K, Asakura T. Molecular logic of salt taste reception in special reference to transmembrane channel-like 4 (TMC4). J Physiol Sci 2022; 72:31. [DOI: 10.1186/s12576-022-00856-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe taste is biologically of intrinsic importance. It almost momentarily perceives environmental stimuli for better survival. In the early 2000s, research into taste reception was greatly developed with discovery of the receptors. However, the mechanism of salt taste reception is not fully elucidated yet and many questions still remain. At present, next-generation sequencing and genome-editing technologies are available which would become pivotal tools to elucidate the remaining issues. Here we review current mechanisms of salt taste reception in particular and characterize the properties of transmembrane channel-like 4 as a novel salt taste-related molecule that we found using these sophisticated tools.
Collapse
|
8
|
Ozdener MH, Mahavadi S, Mummalaneni S, Lyall V. Relationship between ENaC Regulators and SARS-CoV-2 Virus Receptor (ACE2) Expression in Cultured Adult Human Fungiform (HBO) Taste Cells. Nutrients 2022; 14:2703. [PMID: 35807883 PMCID: PMC9268489 DOI: 10.3390/nu14132703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to the α, β, and γ subunits of ENaC, human salt-sensing taste receptor cells (TRCs) also express the δ-subunit. At present, it is not clear if the expression and function of the ENaC δ-subunit in human salt-sensing TRCs is also modulated by the ENaC regulatory hormones and intracellular signaling effectors known to modulate salt responses in rodent TRCs. Here, we used molecular techniques to demonstrate that the G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER1), the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1), and components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) are expressed in δ-ENaC-positive cultured adult human fungiform (HBO) taste cells. Our results suggest that RAAS components function in a complex with ENaC and TRPV1 to modulate salt sensing and thus salt intake in humans. Early, but often prolonged, symptoms of COVID-19 infection are the loss of taste, smell, and chemesthesis. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contains two subunits, S1 and S2. S1 contains a receptor-binding domain, which is responsible for recognizing and binding to the ACE2 receptor, a component of RAAS. Our results show that the binding of a mutated S1 protein to ACE2 decreases ACE2 expression in HBO cells. We hypothesize that changes in ACE2 receptor expression can alter the balance between the two major RAAS pathways, ACE1/Ang II/AT1R and ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MASR1, leading to changes in ENaC expression and responses to NaCl in salt-sensing human fungiform taste cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sunila Mahavadi
- Department of Biology, Center for Biomedical Research, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, USA;
| | - Shobha Mummalaneni
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
| | - Vijay Lyall
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Brown EF, Mitaera T, Fronius M. COVID-19 and Liquid Homeostasis in the Lung—A Perspective through the Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) Lens. Cells 2022; 11:cells11111801. [PMID: 35681496 PMCID: PMC9180030 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections with a new corona virus in 2019 lead to the definition of a new disease known as Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The sever cases of COVID-19 and the main cause of death due to virus infection are attributed to respiratory distress. This is associated with the formation of pulmonary oedema that impairs blood oxygenation and hypoxemia as main symptoms of respiratory distress. An important player for the maintenance of a defined liquid environment in lungs needed for normal lung function is the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). The present article reviews the implications of SARS-CoV-2 infections from the perspective of impaired function of ENaC. The rationale for this perspective is derived from the recognition that viral spike protein and ENaC share a common proteolytic cleavage site. This cleavage site is utilized by the protease furin, that is essential for ENaC activity. Furin cleavage of spike ‘activates’ the virus protein to enable binding to host cell membrane receptors and initiate cell infection. Based on the importance of proteolytic cleavage for ENaC function and activation of spike, it seems feasible to assume that virus infections are associated with impaired ENaC activity. This is further supported by symptoms of COVID-19 that are reminiscent of impaired ENaC function in the respiratory tract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily F. Brown
- Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; (E.F.B.); (T.M.)
- HeartOtago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Tamapuretu Mitaera
- Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; (E.F.B.); (T.M.)
- HeartOtago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Martin Fronius
- Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; (E.F.B.); (T.M.)
- HeartOtago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa New Zealand, Centre of Research Excellence, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Discovery, Centre of Research Excellence, New Zealand
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +64-3-471-6081
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Behrens M, Lang T. Extra-Oral Taste Receptors-Function, Disease, and Perspectives. Front Nutr 2022; 9:881177. [PMID: 35445064 PMCID: PMC9014832 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.881177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Taste perception is crucial for the critical evaluation of food constituents in human and other vertebrates. The five basic taste qualities salty, sour, sweet, umami (in humans mainly the taste of L-glutamic acid) and bitter provide important information on the energy content, the concentration of electrolytes and the presence of potentially harmful components in food items. Detection of the various taste stimuli is facilitated by specialized receptor proteins that are expressed in taste buds distributed on the tongue and the oral cavity. Whereas, salty and sour receptors represent ion channels, the receptors for sweet, umami and bitter belong to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. In particular, the G protein-coupled taste receptors have been located in a growing number of tissues outside the oral cavity, where they mediate important processes. This article will provide a brief introduction into the human taste perception, the corresponding receptive molecules and their signal transduction. Then, we will focus on taste receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, which participate in a variety of processes including the regulation of metabolic functions, hunger/satiety regulation as well as in digestion and pathogen defense reactions. These important non-gustatory functions suggest that complex selective forces have contributed to shape taste receptors during evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maik Behrens
- Leibniz Institute of Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Tatjana Lang
- Leibniz Institute of Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
On the human taste perception: Molecular-level understanding empowered by computational methods. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
|
12
|
Gutierrez R, Simon SA. Physiology of Taste Processing in the Tongue, Gut, and Brain. Compr Physiol 2021; 11:2489-2523. [PMID: 34558667 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c210002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The gustatory system detects and informs us about the nature of various chemicals we put in our mouth. Some of these have nutritive value (sugars, amino acids, salts, and fats) and are appetitive and avidly ingested, whereas others (atropine, quinine, nicotine) are aversive and rapidly rejected. However, the gustatory system is mainly responsible for evoking the perception of a limited number of qualities that humans taste as sweet, umami, bitter, sour, salty, and perhaps fat [free fatty acids (FFA)] and starch (malto-oligosaccharides). The complex flavors and mouthfeel that we experience while eating food result from the integration of taste, odor, texture, pungency, and temperature. The latter three arise primarily from the somatosensory (trigeminal) system. The sensory organs used for detecting and transducing many chemicals are found in taste buds (TBs) located throughout the tongue, soft palate esophagus, and epiglottis. In parallel with the taste system, the trigeminal nerve innervates the peri-gemmal epithelium to transmit temperature, mechanical stimuli, and painful or cooling sensations such as those produced by changes in temperature as well as from chemicals like capsaicin and menthol, respectively. This article gives an overview of the current knowledge about these TB cells' anatomy and physiology and their trigeminal induced sensations. We then discuss how taste is represented across gustatory cortices using an intermingled and spatially distributed population code. Finally, we review postingestion processing (interoception) and central integration of the tongue-gut-brain interaction, ultimately determining our sensations as well as preferences toward the wholesomeness of nutritious foods. © 2021 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 11:1-35, 2021.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ranier Gutierrez
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Appetite, Department of Pharmacology, CINVESTAV, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sidney A Simon
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Jang JH, Kwon O, Moon SJ, Jeong YT. Recent Advances in Understanding Peripheral Taste Decoding I: 2010 to 2020. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) 2021; 36:469-477. [PMID: 34139798 PMCID: PMC8258330 DOI: 10.3803/enm.2021.302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Taste sensation is the gatekeeper for direct decisions on feeding behavior and evaluating the quality of food. Nutritious and beneficial substances such as sugars and amino acids are represented by sweet and umami tastes, respectively, whereas noxious substances and toxins by bitter or sour tastes. Essential electrolytes including Na+ and other ions are recognized by the salty taste. Gustatory information is initially generated by taste buds in the oral cavity, projected into the central nervous system, and finally processed to provide input signals for food recognition, regulation of metabolism and physiology, and higher-order brain functions such as learning and memory, emotion, and reward. Therefore, understanding the peripheral taste system is fundamental for the development of technologies to regulate the endocrine system and improve whole-body metabolism. In this review article, we introduce previous widely-accepted views on the physiology and genetics of peripheral taste cells and primary gustatory neurons, and discuss key findings from the past decade that have raised novel questions or solved previously raised questions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jea Hwa Jang
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul,
Korea
- Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Obin Kwon
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul,
Korea
- Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Seok Jun Moon
- Department of Oral Biology, BK21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Yong Taek Jeong
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul,
Korea
- Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul,
Korea
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Among the 5 taste qualities, salt is the least understood. The receptors, their expression pattern in taste cells, and the transduction mechanisms for salt taste are still unclear. Previous studies have suggested that low concentrations of NaCl are detected by the amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC), which in other systems requires assembly of 3 homologous subunits (α, β, and γ) to form a functional channel. However, a new study from Lossow and colleagues, published in this issue of Chemical Senses, challenges that hypothesis by examining expression levels of the 3 ENaC subunits in individual taste cells using gene-targeted mice in combination with immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results show a lack of colocalization of ENaC subunits in taste cells as well as expression of subunits in taste cells that show no amiloride sensitivity. These new results question the molecular identity of the amiloride-sensitive Na+ conductance in taste cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aurelie Vandenbeuch
- Department of Otolaryngology and Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA
| | - Sue C Kinnamon
- Department of Otolaryngology and Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
|
16
|
Abstract
All organisms have the ability to detect chemicals in the environment, which likely evolved out of organisms' needs to detect food sources and avoid potentially harmful compounds. The taste system detects chemicals and is used to determine whether potential food items will be ingested or rejected. The sense of taste detects five known taste qualities: bitter, sweet, salty, sour, and umami, which is the detection of amino acids, specifically glutamate. These different taste qualities encompass a wide variety of chemicals that differ in their structure and as a result, the peripheral taste utilizes numerous and diverse mechanisms to detect these stimuli. In this chapter, we will summarize what is currently known about the signaling mechanisms used by taste cells to transduce stimulus signals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debarghya Dutta Banik
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kathryn F Medler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Optogenetic Stimulation of Type I GAD65 + Cells in Taste Buds Activates Gustatory Neurons and Drives Appetitive Licking Behavior in Sodium-Depleted Mice. J Neurosci 2020. [PMID: 32878902 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0597‐20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian taste buds are comprised of specialized neuroepithelial cells that act as sensors for molecules that provide nutrition (e.g., carbohydrates, amino acids, and salts) and those that are potentially harmful (e.g., certain plant compounds and strong acids). Type II and III taste bud cells (TBCs) detect molecules described by humans as "sweet," "bitter," "umami," and "sour." TBCs that detect metallic ions, described by humans as "salty," are undefined. Historically, type I glial-like TBCs have been thought to play a supportive role in the taste bud, but little research has been done to explore their role in taste transduction. Some evidence implies that type I cells may detect sodium (Na+) via an amiloride-sensitive mechanism, suggesting they play a role in Na+ taste transduction. We used an optogenetic approach to study type I TBCs by driving the expression of the light-sensitive channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in type I GAD65+ TBCs of male and female mice. Optogenetic stimulation of GAD65+ TBCs increased chorda tympani nerve activity and activated gustatory neurons in the rostral nucleus tractus solitarius. "N neurons," whose NaCl responses were blocked by the amiloride analog benzamil, responded robustly to light stimulation of GAD65+ TBCs on the anterior tongue. Two-bottle preference tests were conducted under Na+-replete and Na+-deplete conditions to assess the behavioral impact of optogenetic stimulation of GAD65+ TBCs. Under Na+-deplete conditions GAD65-ChR2-EYFP mice displayed a robust preference for H2O illuminated with 470 nm light versus nonilluminated H2O, suggesting that type I glial-like TBCs are sufficient for driving a behavior that resembles Na+ appetite.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This is the first investigation on the role of type I GAD65+ taste bud cells (TBCs) in taste-mediated physiology and behavior via optogenetics. It details the first definitive evidence that selective optogenetic stimulation of glial-like GAD65+ TBCs evokes neural activity and modulates behavior. Optogenetic stimulation of GAD65+ TBCs on the anterior tongue had the strongest effect on gustatory neurons that responded best to NaCl stimulation through a benzamil-sensitive mechanism. Na+-depleted mice showed robust preferences to "light taste" (H2O illuminated with 470 nm light vs nonilluminated H2O), suggesting that the activation of GAD65+ cells may generate a salt-taste sensation in the brain. Together, our results shed new light on the role of GAD65+ TBCs in gustatory transduction and taste-mediated behavior.
Collapse
|
18
|
Taruno A, Nomura K, Kusakizako T, Ma Z, Nureki O, Foskett JK. Taste transduction and channel synapses in taste buds. Pflugers Arch 2020; 473:3-13. [PMID: 32936320 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-020-02464-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The variety of taste sensations, including sweet, umami, bitter, sour, and salty, arises from diverse taste cells, each of which expresses specific taste sensor molecules and associated components for downstream signal transduction cascades. Recent years have witnessed major advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying transduction of basic tastes in taste buds, including the identification of the bona fide sour sensor H+ channel OTOP1, and elucidation of transduction of the amiloride-sensitive component of salty taste (the taste of sodium) and the TAS1R-independent component of sweet taste (the taste of sugar). Studies have also discovered an unconventional chemical synapse termed "channel synapse" which employs an action potential-activated CALHM1/3 ion channel instead of exocytosis of synaptic vesicles as the conduit for neurotransmitter release that links taste cells to afferent neurons. New images of the channel synapse and determinations of the structures of CALHM channels have provided structural and functional insights into this unique synapse. In this review, we discuss the current view of taste transduction and neurotransmission with emphasis on recent advances in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akiyuki Taruno
- Department of Molecular Cell Physiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. .,Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan.
| | - Kengo Nomura
- Department of Molecular Cell Physiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Kusakizako
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Zhongming Ma
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Osamu Nureki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - J Kevin Foskett
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Optogenetic Stimulation of Type I GAD65 + Cells in Taste Buds Activates Gustatory Neurons and Drives Appetitive Licking Behavior in Sodium-Depleted Mice. J Neurosci 2020; 40:7795-7810. [PMID: 32878902 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0597-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian taste buds are comprised of specialized neuroepithelial cells that act as sensors for molecules that provide nutrition (e.g., carbohydrates, amino acids, and salts) and those that are potentially harmful (e.g., certain plant compounds and strong acids). Type II and III taste bud cells (TBCs) detect molecules described by humans as "sweet," "bitter," "umami," and "sour." TBCs that detect metallic ions, described by humans as "salty," are undefined. Historically, type I glial-like TBCs have been thought to play a supportive role in the taste bud, but little research has been done to explore their role in taste transduction. Some evidence implies that type I cells may detect sodium (Na+) via an amiloride-sensitive mechanism, suggesting they play a role in Na+ taste transduction. We used an optogenetic approach to study type I TBCs by driving the expression of the light-sensitive channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in type I GAD65+ TBCs of male and female mice. Optogenetic stimulation of GAD65+ TBCs increased chorda tympani nerve activity and activated gustatory neurons in the rostral nucleus tractus solitarius. "N neurons," whose NaCl responses were blocked by the amiloride analog benzamil, responded robustly to light stimulation of GAD65+ TBCs on the anterior tongue. Two-bottle preference tests were conducted under Na+-replete and Na+-deplete conditions to assess the behavioral impact of optogenetic stimulation of GAD65+ TBCs. Under Na+-deplete conditions GAD65-ChR2-EYFP mice displayed a robust preference for H2O illuminated with 470 nm light versus nonilluminated H2O, suggesting that type I glial-like TBCs are sufficient for driving a behavior that resembles Na+ appetite.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This is the first investigation on the role of type I GAD65+ taste bud cells (TBCs) in taste-mediated physiology and behavior via optogenetics. It details the first definitive evidence that selective optogenetic stimulation of glial-like GAD65+ TBCs evokes neural activity and modulates behavior. Optogenetic stimulation of GAD65+ TBCs on the anterior tongue had the strongest effect on gustatory neurons that responded best to NaCl stimulation through a benzamil-sensitive mechanism. Na+-depleted mice showed robust preferences to "light taste" (H2O illuminated with 470 nm light vs nonilluminated H2O), suggesting that the activation of GAD65+ cells may generate a salt-taste sensation in the brain. Together, our results shed new light on the role of GAD65+ TBCs in gustatory transduction and taste-mediated behavior.
Collapse
|
20
|
Does ENaC Work as Sodium Taste Receptor in Humans? Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12041195. [PMID: 32344597 PMCID: PMC7230849 DOI: 10.3390/nu12041195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Taste reception is fundamental for the proper selection of food and beverages. Among the several chemicals recognized by the human taste system, sodium ions (Na+) are of particular relevance. Na+ represents the main extracellular cation and is a key factor in many physiological processes. Na+ elicits a specific sensation, called salty taste, and low-medium concentrations of table salt (NaCl, the common sodium-containing chemical we use to season foods) are perceived as pleasant and appetitive. How we detect this cation in foodstuffs is scarcely understood. In animal models, such as the mouse and the rat, the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) has been proposed as a key protein for recognizing Na+ and for mediating preference responses to low-medium salt concentrations. Here, I will review our current understanding regarding the possible involvement of ENaC in the detection of food Na+ by the human taste system.
Collapse
|
21
|
Sodium Imbalance in Mice Results Primarily in Compensatory Gene Regulatory Responses in Kidney and Colon, but Not in Taste Tissue. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12040995. [PMID: 32260115 PMCID: PMC7230584 DOI: 10.3390/nu12040995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal excretion and sodium appetite provide the basis for sodium homeostasis. In both the kidney and tongue, the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is involved in sodium uptake and sensing. The diuretic drug amiloride is known to block ENaC, producing a mild natriuresis. However, amiloride is further reported to induce salt appetite in rodents after prolonged exposure as well as bitter taste impressions in humans. To examine how dietary sodium content and amiloride impact on sodium appetite, mice were subjected to dietary salt and amiloride intervention and subsequently analyzed for ENaC expression and taste reactivity. We observed substantial changes of ENaC expression in the colon and kidney confirming the role of these tissues for sodium homeostasis, whereas effects on lingual ENaC expression and taste preferences were negligible. In comparison, prolonged exposure to amiloride-containing drinking water affected β- and αENaC expression in fungiform and posterior taste papillae, respectively, next to changes in salt taste. However, amiloride did not only change salt taste sensation but also perception of sucrose, glutamate, and citric acid, which might be explained by the fact that amiloride itself activates bitter taste receptors in mice. Accordingly, exposure to amiloride generally affects taste impression and should be evaluated with care.
Collapse
|