How Do You Stop Tasting?
August 5, 2011 New findings may lend insight into why some people are especially sensitive to bitter tastes. Scientists from the Monell Center have identified a protein inside of taste cells that acts to shorten bitter taste signals. They further report that mice lacking the gene for this taste terminator protein are more sensitive to bitter taste and also find it more aversive, possibly because they experience the taste for a longer period of time.
New Bitter Blocker Discovered
June 6, 2011 Bitter taste can cause rejection that interferes with food selection, nutrition and therapeutic compliance. This is especially true for children. Scientists from the Monell and Integral Molecular describe the discovery of a compound that inhibits bitterness by acting directly on a subset of bitter taste receptors.
Human Taste Cells Regenerate in a Dish
April 10, 2011 Following years of futile attempts, new research from Monell demonstrates that living human taste cells can be maintained in culture for at least seven months. The findings provide scientists with a valuable tool to learn about the human sense of taste and how it functions in health and disease. This advance ultimately will assist efforts to prevent and treat taste loss or impairment due to infection, radiation, chemotherapy and chemical exposures.
How Sweet It Is: Why Your Taste Cells Love Sugar So Much
March 7, 2011 A new research study dramatically increases knowledge of how taste cells detect sugars, a key step in developing strategies to limit overconsumption. Monell scientists have discovered that taste cells have several additional sugar detectors other than the previously known sweet receptor.
NSAID Receptor Responsible for Olive Oil’s ‘Cough’ and More
January 19, 2011 Scientists from Monell and collaborators report that a receptor known as TRPA1 is activated by two structurally unrelated anti-inflammatory compounds. The first, oleocanthal, is a natural polyphenolic anti-inflammatory agent uniquely found in extra virgin olive oil; while the second, ibuprofen, is an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
