Food chemosensation: Characterization of novel bitter taste blockers and structure-function analysis

食品化学感觉：新型苦味阻滞剂的表征和结构功能分析

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-05670
• 负责人: Chelikani, Prashen
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: University of Manitoba
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=740775
• 关键词: Food; chemosensation; Characterization; novel; bitter

Taste is a chemosensory system responsible for basic food appraisal and is mediated mostly by cell surface proteins. Humans are capable of detecting a few basic tastes, which include sweet, umami, bitter, sour, salt, and possibly fat. The signal transduction for sweet, umami, bitter and fat tastes is predominantly through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). In humans, bitter taste sensation is mediated by 25 bitter taste receptors (T2Rs), which form one of the largest sub-groups within the GPCR family. However, very little information on their structure-function is known. Thus far, the identities of natural ligands and blockers (antagonists) for majority of the T2Rs are unknown. OBJECTIVES The long-term objective of my NSERC program is to characterize the molecular basis of human bitter taste signal transduction. My approach will be to use a combination of molecular, cellular and biochemical techniques to discover novel T2R ligands and unravel their mechanisms of action. The short-term goals are: 1) Isolate and characterize novel ligands or bitter taste blockers isolated from food proteins. 2) Pursue structure-function studies on T2Rs. SIGNIFICANCE It is anticipated that the results from this research program would enable us to manipulate T2Rs so as to control the strength and duration of their signal. Knowledge about how T2Rs interact with their ligand will enable design of tastants that enhance food flavor. Bitter blockers can be used to suppress unpleasantness and thereby increase palatability of health-promoting bitter foods, such as fruit and vegetable extracts. The proposed research would train HQP, who will gain expertise in a broad range of modern biochemical and food chemosensory techniques.

味觉是负责基本食物评价的化学感应系统，主要由细胞表面蛋白介导。人类能够感知一些基本的味道，包括甜味、鲜味、苦味、酸味、盐味，可能还有脂肪。甜味、鲜味、苦味和脂肪味的信号转导主要通过 G 蛋白偶联受体 (GPCR) 进行。在人类中，苦味感觉由 25 个苦味受体 (T2R) 介导，这些受体构成 GPCR 家族中最大的亚群之一。然而，关于它们的结构功能的信息知之甚少。迄今为止，大多数 T2R 的天然配体和阻断剂（拮抗剂）的身份尚不清楚。 目标 我的 NSERC 项目的长期目标是表征人类苦味信号转导的分子基础。我的方法是结合使用分子、细胞和生化技术来发现新型 T2R 配体并揭示其作用机制。 短期目标是：1）分离并表征从食品蛋白质中分离的新型配体或苦味阻滞剂。 2) 对T2R进行结构功能研究。 意义 预计该研究计划的结果将使我们能够操纵 T2R，从而控制其信号的强度和持续时间。了解 T2R 如何与其配体相互作用将有助于设计增强食品风味的促味剂。苦味阻滞剂可用于抑制不愉快的感觉，从而提高促进健康的苦味食品（如水果和蔬菜提取物）的适口性。拟议的研究将培训 HQP，他们将获得广泛的现代生化和食品化学传感技术方面的专业知识。