Gustatory mechanisms for the detection of fat.
Recent evidence suggests that free fatty acids may be one of the important stimuli used by taste receptor cells for the detection of fat. Consistent with this interpretation, the proteins necessary for the release and transport of lipophilic fatty acids are found in the oral cavity, and taste cells have recently been shown to contain fatty-acid-sensitive ion channels and transport molecules for the uptake of fatty acids.
Gilbertson
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Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70808-4124, USA. tim.gilbertson@tasteful.com
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified