The Application of In Silico Methods on Umami Taste Receptor

The umami taste receptor is a heterodimer composed of two members of the T1R taste receptor family: T1R1 (taste receptor type 1 member 1) and T1R3 (taste receptor type 1 member 3). Taste receptor T1R1-T1R3 can be activated, or modulated, by binding to several natural ligands, such as L-glutamate, inosine-5'-monophosphate (IMP), and guanosine-5'-monophosphate (GMP). Because no structure of the umami taste receptor has been solved until now, in silico techniques, such as homology modelling, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, are used to generate a 3D structure model of this receptor and to understand its molecular mechanisms. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight how computational methods can provide a better deciphering of the mechanisms of action of umami ligands in activating the umami taste receptors leading to advancements in the taste research field.