Other studies will explore how odour molecules modify
taste cell responses and, ultimately, human taste perception.
Scientists will continue study whether or not odor receptors are specially located on a specific
taste cell type, for example, sweet- or salt-detecting cells.
Some of these newly-discovered genes may help researchers to better understand how a
taste cell detects a given taste quality.
Recently, Glendinning and colleagues [16] suggested that salivary leptin might act at leptin receptor level present in
taste cells, in a way similar to what was reported for the satiation peptide PYY [22].
This sensory system is served by three nerves, each of which contains neurons that contact individual
taste cells within taste buds (Finger and Simon, 2000).
Additional studies revealed that the Lgr5cxprcssing cells were capable of becoming any one of the three major
taste cell types.
Identification of these cells opens up a whole new area for studying
taste cell renewal, and contributes to stem cell biology in general," said senior author Peihua Jiang, Ph.D., also a Monell molecular neurobiologist.
When a gut
taste cell detects sweet, it triggers a cascade of molecular events, a simplified view of which is shown here.
The SGLT1 sensor is a transporter that moves glucose into the sweet
taste cell when sodium is present, thus triggering the cell to register sweetness.
"It makes sense that nature would have built a
taste cell like this, so as not to confuse salty with sour," she said.
"This means that the functional unit of taste now has to include not just the
taste cell, but its environment as well."
Scientists say odour sensors - usually found in the nose - were also discovered on
taste cells in the mouth.