title: Genetic analysis of chemosensory traits in human twins.
abstract: We explored genetic influences on the perception of taste and smell stimuli. Adult twins rated the chemosensory aspects of water, sucrose, sodium chloride, citric acid, ethanol, quinine hydrochloride, phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), potassium chloride, calcium chloride, cinnamon, androstenone, Galaxolide™, cilantro, and basil. For most traits, individual differences were stable over time and some traits were heritable (h(2) from 0.41 to 0.71). Subjects were genotyped for 44 single nucleotide polymorphisms within and near genes related to taste and smell. The results of these association analyses confirmed previous  genotype-phenotype results for PTC, quinine, and androstenone. New associations were detected for ratings of basil and a bitter taste receptor gene, TAS2R60, and between cilantro and variants in three genes (TRPA1, GNAT3, and TAS2R50). The flavor of ethanol was related to variation within an olfactory receptor gene (OR7D4) and a gene encoding a subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (SCNN1D). Our study demonstrates that person-to-person differences in the taste and smell perception of simple foods and drinks are partially accounted for by genetic variation within chemosensory pathways.
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knaapila
authors.forename: Liang-Dar
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lysenko
authors.forename: Fujiko F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Duke
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fesi
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khoshnevisan
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wysocki
authors.forename: MeeRa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rhyu
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tordoff
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bachmanov
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Danielle R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012903:Smell / Q000235:genetics*; D000074025:TRPA1 Cation Channel; D013649:Taste / Q000235:genetics*; D015293:Transducin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014427:Twins; D055815:Young Adult; D000098706:Taste Receptors, Type 2
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C507051:SCNN1D protein, human; D000074025:TRPA1 Cation Channel; C473350:TRPA1 protein, human; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels; D000098706:Taste Receptors, Type 2; D015293:Transducin