title: The molecular receptive ranges of human TAS2R bitter taste receptors.
abstract: Humans perceive thousands of compounds as bitter. In sharp contrast, only approximately 25 taste 2 receptors (TAS2R) bitter taste receptors have been identified, raising the question as to how the vast array of bitter compounds can be detected by such a limited number of sensors. To address this issue, we have challenged 25 human taste 2 receptors (hTAS2Rs) with 104 natural or synthetic bitter chemicals in a heterologous expression system. Thirteen cognate bitter compounds for 5 orphan receptors and 64 new compounds for previously identified receptors were discovered. Whereas some receptors recognized only few agonists, others displayed moderate or extreme tuning broadness. Thus, 3 hTAS2Rs together were able to detect approximately 50% of the substances used. Conversely, though 63 bitter substances activated only 1-3 receptors, 19 compounds stimulated up to 15 hTAS2Rs. Our data suggest that the detection of the numerous bitter chemicals is related to the molecular receptive ranges of hTAS2Rs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany. meyerhof@dife.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meyerhof
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Batram
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brockhoff
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chudoba
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bufe
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Appendino
authors.forename: Maik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behrens
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013652:Taste Threshold; D014966:Xanthenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000098706:Taste Receptors, Type 2
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; C409648:Fluo 4; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D014966:Xanthenes; D000098706:Taste Receptors, Type 2