Peihua Jiang

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Neurobiology; University of Pittsburgh

Research Summary

I am interested in how the taste system functions at the molecular level. My current research is focused on the understanding of “endocrine” taste cells and the interplay between the taste system and the endocrine system. My approaches include molecular biology, imaging as well as high-throughput assays using either in vitro cell models or in vivo animal models. This work may have commercial implications and the understanding of the roles of taste signaling elements in metabolic regulation could lead to the development of new treatment options for metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes and ultimately improve human health.

Keywords

sweet taste, molecular biology, hormones, signal transduction, metabolic disorders

Recent Publications

Li DF, Jiang P, Zhu DY, Hu Y, Max M, Wang DC. Crystal structure of Mabinlin II: a novel structural type of sweet proteins and the main structural basis for its sweetness. J Struct Biol. 2008 Apr;162(1):50-62. Epub 2008 Jan 11.

Romanov RA, Rogachevskaja OA, Bystrova MF, Jiang P, Margolskee RF, Kolesnikov SS. Afferent neurotransmission mediated by hemichannels in mammalian taste cells. EMBO J. 2007 Feb 7;26(3):657-67. Epub 2007 Jan 18.

Cui M, Jiang P, Maillet E, Max M, Margolskee RF, Osman R. The heterodimeric sweet taste receptor has multiple potential ligand binding sites. Curr Pharm Des. 2006;12(35):4591-600. Review.

Jiang P, Cui M, Zhao B, Snyder LA, Benard LM, Osman R, Max M, Margolskee RF. Identification of the cyclamate interaction site within the transmembrane domain of the human sweet taste receptor subunit T1R3. J Biol Chem. 2005 Oct 7;280(40):34296-305. Epub 2005 Aug 2.

Jiang P, Cui M, Ji Q, Snyder L, Liu Z, Benard L, Margolskee RF, Osman R, Max M. Molecular mechanisms of sweet receptor function. Chem Senses. 2005 Jan;30 Suppl 1:i17-8.

Jiang P, Cui M, Zhao B, Liu Z, Snyder LA, Benard LM, Osman R, Margolskee RF, Max M. Lactisole interacts with the transmembrane domains of human T1R3 to inhibit sweet taste. J Biol Chem. 2005 Apr 15;280(15):15238-46. Epub 2005 Jan 24.

Jiang P, Ji Q, Liu Z, Snyder LA, Benard LM, Margolskee RF, Max M. The cysteine-rich region of T1R3 determines responses to intensely sweet proteins. J Biol Chem. 2004 Oct 22;279(43):45068-75. Epub 2004 Aug 6.

Damak S, Rong M, Yasumatsu K, Kokrashvili Z, Varadarajan V, Zou S, Jiang P, Ninomiya Y, Margolskee RF. Detection of sweet and umami taste in the absence of taste receptor T1r3. Science. 2003 Aug 8;301(5634):850-3. Epub 2003 Jul 17.