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Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
Published on: August 17, 2018
Variant in a common odorant-binding protein gene is associated with bitter sensitivity in people
Iole Tomassini Barbarossa1, M Hakan Ozdener2, Melania1
1University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, I 09042, Italy.
Abstract:
Deeper understanding of signaling mechanisms underlying bitterness perception in people is essential for designing novel and effective bitter blockers, which could enhance nutrition and compliance with orally administered bitter-tasting drugs. Here we show that variability in a human odorant-binding protein gene, OBPIIa, associates with individual differences in bitterness perception of fat (oleic acid) and of a prototypical bitter stimulus, 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), suggesting a novel olfactory role in the modulation of bitterness sensitivity.
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