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Genetic Variation in the TAS2R38 Bitter Taste Receptor and Smoking Behaviors
Davide S Risso1,2, Julia Kozlitina3, Eduardo Sainz1
1Laboratory of Communication Disorders, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
Plos One
|October 7, 2016
Summary
Genetic variants in the TAS2R38 gene influence the ability to taste bitter compounds like PTC. This study found that TAS2R38 gene variants are linked to smoking status in European-Americans, suggesting a protective role against smoking in certain populations.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Human Physiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- The TAS2R38 gene encodes a bitter taste receptor, with common variants determining phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) tasting ability.
- Tobacco smoke contains bitter compounds that activate taste receptors, leading to hypotheses about the link between bitter taste perception and smoking behavior.
- Previous studies on the association between TAS2R38 gene variants and smoking status have yielded conflicting results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between TAS2R38 gene polymorphisms and smoking status across different populations.
- To determine if PTC tasting ability influences an individual's likelihood of smoking.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of TAS2R38 polymorphisms and collection of tobacco use data from three cohorts: European-Americans in Georgia, European-Americans and African-Americans in the Dallas Heart Study (DHS), and African-Americans in the Dallas Biobank.
- Assessment of PTC taste sensitivity in the Georgia cohort.
- Statistical analysis to compare the frequency of TAS2R38 haplotypes and PTC taster status between smokers and non-smokers.
Main Results:
- In the Georgia cohort, PTC tasters were less prevalent among smokers (71.5%) compared to non-smokers (82.5%).
- European-Americans in the DHS showed a significantly lower frequency of the TAS2R38 taster haplotype (37.0%) and a higher frequency of the non-taster haplotype (58.7%) in smokers compared to non-smokers.
- No significant association between TAS2R38 haplotypes and smoking status was found in the African-American cohorts.
Conclusions:
- TAS2R38 gene variants are associated with smoking status in European-Americans, but not in African-Americans.
- PTC taster status may offer a degree of protection against cigarette smoking initiation or continuation in specific ethnic groups.
- These findings highlight the role of genetic variation in taste perception in influencing complex behaviors like smoking.
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