Behrens M, Meyerhof W
Dept. Molecular Genetics, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558, Nuthetal, Germany.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2006 Jul;63(13):1501-9. doi: 10.1007/s00018-006-6113-8.
A vast number of structurally diverse bitter compounds need to be detected by a subfamily of only approximately 25 human bitter receptors. Failure in detecting them might be lethal, since some naturally occurring bitter compounds, such as strychnine, are very toxic. This review presents an overview about the enormous progress in the field of mammalian bitter taste research with special emphasis on humans, if data were available. It summarizes the current knowledge about the anatomical basis for bitter taste perception, intracellular signal transduction, evolution, expression and polymorphisms of hTAS2R genes, and the molecular basis for the recognition of bitter compounds.
大量结构各异的苦味化合物需要由仅约25种人类苦味受体组成的一个亚家族来检测。无法检测到它们可能是致命的,因为一些天然存在的苦味化合物,如马钱子碱,具有很强的毒性。如果有数据的话,本综述将概述哺乳动物苦味研究领域的巨大进展,特别着重于人类。它总结了目前关于苦味感知的解剖学基础、细胞内信号转导、进化、hTAS2R基因的表达和多态性以及苦味化合物识别的分子基础的知识。