Bitter peptides and bitter taste receptors

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2009 May;66(10):1661-71. doi: 10.1007/s00018-009-8755-9.

Abstract

Bitter peptides are a structurally diverse group of oligopeptides often generated in fermented, aged, and hydrolyzed food products that make them unfavorable for consumption. Humans perceive bitterness by a repertoire of 25 human bitter receptors, termed T2Rs. Knowledge of the structural features of bitter receptors and of the factors that stimulate bitter receptors will aid in understanding the mechanism responsible for bitter taste perception. This article reviews the current knowledge regarding structural features of bitter peptides and bitter taste receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Taste*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • taste receptors, type 2