title: Genetics of Amino Acid Taste and Appetite.
abstract: The consumption of amino acids by animals is controlled by both oral and postoral mechanisms. We used a genetic approach to investigate these mechanisms. Our studies have shown that inbred mouse strains differ in voluntary amino acid consumption, and these differences depend on sensory and nutritive properties of amino acids. Like humans, mice perceive some amino acids as having a sweet (sucrose-like) taste and others as having an umami (glutamate-like) taste. Mouse strain differences in the consumption of some sweet-tasting amino acids (d-phenylalanine, d-tryptophan, and l-proline) are associated with polymorphisms of a taste receptor, type 1, member 3 gene (Tas1r3), and involve differential peripheral taste responsiveness. Strain differences in the consumption of some other sweet-tasting amino acids (glycine, l-alanine, l-glutamine, and l-threonine) do not depend on Tas1r3 polymorphisms and so must be due to allelic variation in other, as yet unknown, genes involved in sweet taste. Strain differences in the consumption of l-glutamate may depend on postingestive rather than taste mechanisms. Thus, genes and physiologic mechanisms responsible for strain differences in the consumption of each amino acid depend on the nature of its taste and postingestive properties. Overall, mouse strain differences in amino acid taste and appetite have a complex genetic architecture. In addition to the Tas1r3 gene, these differences depend on other genes likely involved in determining the taste and postingestive effects of amino acids. The identification of these genes may lead to the discovery of novel mechanisms that regulate amino acid taste and appetite.
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA; bachmanov@monell.org.
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2861-3322
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bachmanov
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA;
authors.forename: Natalia P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Bosak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY;
authors.forename: John I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Glendinning
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA; Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan;
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA;
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA; Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan;
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manita
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA;
authors.forename: Stuart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McCaughey
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA; National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Yokohama, Japan; and.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA;
authors.forename: Danielle R
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4374-6107
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA;
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1977-9520
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tordoff
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Psychology and School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Gary K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Beauchamp
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005518:Food Preferences; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D013649:Taste / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C431926:taste receptors, type 1; D018698:Glutamic Acid
keywords: behavior; consumption; gustatory nerves; inbred strain; intake; mouse; preference; sweet; umami