title: A metabotropic glutamate receptor variant functions as a taste receptor.
abstract: Sensory transduction for many taste stimuli such as sugars, some bitter compounds and amino acids is thought to be mediated via G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), although no such receptors that respond to taste stimuli are yet identified. Monosodium L-glutamate (L-MSG), a natural component of many foods, is an important gustatory stimulus believed to signal dietary protein. We describe a GPCR cloned from rat taste buds and functionally expressed in CHO cells. The receptor couples negatively to a cAMP cascade and shows an unusual concentration-response relationship. The similarity of its properties to MSG taste suggests that this receptor is a taste receptor for glutamate.
authors.affiliation: Program in Neuroscience, University of Miami School of Medicine, P.O. Box 016430 (R430), Miami, Florida 33101, USA. nchaudhari@miami.edu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Landin
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Roper
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D016466:CHO Cells; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006224:Cricetinae; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011422:Propionates / Q000494:pharmacology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C114785:2-amino-4-phosphono-propinate; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011422:Propionates; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D005576:Colforsin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C108823:metabotropic glutamate receptor 4