Jump to main content
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Search
Search
Main menu
Environmental Topics
Laws & Regulations
About EPA
Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Contact Us
Print
Feedback
Export to File
Search:
This record has one attached file:
Add More Files
Attach File(s):
Display Name for File*:
Save
Citation
Tags
HERO ID
5927670
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Metal Ions Activate the Human Taste Receptor TAS2R7
Author(s)
Wang, Y; Zajac, AL; Lei, W; Christensen, CM; Margolskee, RF; Bouysset, C; Golebiowski, J; Zhao, H; Fiorucci, S; Jiang, P
Year
2019
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Chemical Senses
ISSN:
0379-864X
EISSN:
1464-3553
Volume
44
Issue
5
Page Numbers
339-347
Language
English
PMID
31066447
DOI
10.1093/chemse/bjz024
Web of Science Id
WOS:000481420700007
Abstract
Divalent and trivalent salts exhibit a complex taste profile. They are perceived as being astringent/drying, sour, bitter, and metallic. We hypothesized that human bitter-taste receptors may mediate some taste attributes of these salts. Using a cell-based functional assay, we found that TAS2R7 responds to a broad range of divalent and trivalent salts, including zinc, calcium, magnesium, copper, manganese, and aluminum, but not to potassium, suggesting TAS2R7 may act as a metal cation receptor mediating bitterness of divalent and trivalent salts. Molecular modeling and mutagenesis analysis identified 2 residues, H943.37 and E2647.32, in TAS2R7 that appear to be responsible for the interaction of TAS2R7 with metallic ions. Taste receptors are found in both oral and extraoral tissues. The responsiveness of TAS2R7 to various mineral salts suggests it may act as a broad sensor, similar to the calcium-sensing receptor, for biologically relevant metal cations in both oral and extraoral tissues.
Home
Learn about HERO
Using HERO
Search HERO
Projects in HERO
Risk Assessment
Transparency & Integrity