Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
07:10
Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
Published on: August 17, 2018
Sweet-taste-suppressing compounds: current knowledge and perspectives of application
Maud Sigoillot1, Anne Brockhoff, Wolfgang Meyerhof
1Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, UMR-1324 INRA, UMR-6265 CNRS, Université de Bourgogne, 21000, Dijon, France.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
|September 18, 2012
Summary
Sweet taste receptors (T1R2/T1R3) in the gut regulate metabolism. Inhibitors of these receptors, like gurmarin, show potential for treating obesity and diabetes, though human efficacy requires further study.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Metabolic Science
Background:
- The sweet taste receptor, a heterodimer of T1R2 and T1R3, is crucial for detecting sweet compounds in the mouth.
- This receptor is also present in the gut, playing a role in nutrient absorption, metabolic regulation, and glucose homeostasis.
- Dysregulation of these metabolic functions is linked to obesity and diabetes, highlighting the receptor as a therapeutic target.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on sweet taste inhibitors.
- To discuss the potential therapeutic applications of these inhibitors for metabolic disorders.
- To examine specific inhibitors, including the protein gurmarin.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on sweet taste receptors and their inhibitors.
- Analysis of the mechanisms of action for identified sweet taste inhibitors.
- Evaluation of pre-clinical and clinical data on therapeutic potential.
Main Results:
- Sweet taste receptors (T1R2/T1R3) are implicated in gut functions beyond taste perception.
- Sweet taste inhibitors are emerging as potential therapeutic agents for metabolic diseases.
- Gurmarin, a sweet-taste-suppressing protein, is effective in rodents but not humans, indicating species-specific receptor interactions.
Conclusions:
- The sweet taste receptor presents a viable target for novel therapeutic strategies against obesity and diabetes.
- Further research into human-specific sweet taste inhibitors is warranted.
- Gurmarin's limitations highlight the need for developing inhibitors with cross-species or human-specific activity.
Related Concept Videos
01:24The Physiology of Taste
The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the diffusion of...
01:20Taste Buds and Receptors
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
01:43Gustation
Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.
01:27Glucose Transporters
Glucose transporters facilitate the transport of glucose across the cell membrane. In addition to glucose, some glucose transporters can also aid the movement of other hexoses such as fructose, mannose, and galactose.
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
01:27Effects of Chemicals: Overview
Drugs, encompassing various chemical compounds from natural sources, lab synthesis, or genetic engineering, elicit different biological responses in living organisms. Some of these responses are desirable or therapeutic, while others are undesirable. The primary goal of administering a drug is to achieve a therapeutic effect, that is, to address a specific disease or health condition. Any concurrent effects outside of this therapeutic outcome are considered undesirable. These undesirable...
01:28Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonists
Histamine H2 receptors, which are intricately located on the basolateral membrane of parietal cells, play a crucial role in modulating gastric acid secretion. When released from enterochromaffin-like cells, histamine engages H2 receptors, initiating the cyclic AMP (cAMP) pathway. In this pathway, adenylyl cyclase converts ATP into cAMP, elevating intracellular cAMP levels. The activation of protein kinase A follows, stimulating the proton pump. This stimulation prompts the secretion of hydrogen...