Some taste substances are direct activators of G-proteins.
Amphiphilic substances may stimulate cellular events through direct activation of G-proteins. The present experiments indicate that several amphiphilic sweeteners and the bitter tastant, quinine, activate transducin and Gi/Go-proteins. Concentrations of taste substances required to activate G-proteins in vitro correlated with those used to elicit taste. These data support the hypothesis that amphiphilic taste substances may elicit taste through direct activation of G-proteins.
Naim
M
M
Institut für Pharmakologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
Seifert
R
R
Nürnberg
B
B
Grünbaum
L
L
Schultz
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000494:pharmacology; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014862:Wasp Venoms; C024990:asolectin; C037500:mastoparan; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins