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Sweet Taste Receptors Regulate Proteins in Developing Fruit Flies
Sweet Taste Receptors Regulate Proteins in Developing Fruit Flies
An unexpected find shows that sweet-sensing receptors also help epithelial cells in Drosophila larvae stay alive amid proteotoxic stress.
An unexpected find shows that sweet-sensing receptors also help epithelial cells in Drosophila larvae stay alive amid proteotoxic stress.
taste receptors
The Science Behind How Roundworms Spit
Diana Kwon | Dec 1, 2021 | 4 min read
By viewing countless hours of expectorating worms, researchers discover a unique way in which neurons control the movement of muscles.
Umami Taste Receptor Evolved with Primates’ Diets
Abby Olena, PhD | Sep 6, 2021 | 4 min read
A study suggests that mutations in the gene that encodes the T1R1/T1R3 taste receptor allowed primates that relied on insects for protein to transition to eating leaves and fruit.
Neurons for Taste Loosely Distributed in Mouse Gustatory Cortex
Jef Akst | Mar 1, 2021 | 2 min read
Neurological representations of different tastes—like those of different smells but unlike those of sight, hearing, and touch—do not cluster in distinct spots within a murine brain region, a study shows.
Proton Channel for Sensing Sour Taste Identified in Mice
Emily Makowski | Sep 19, 2019 | 4 min read
Otopetrin-1 was previously only known for its role in the inner ear, but it turns out it also forms a pH-detecting pore in the tongue’s sour taste receptors.
Bitter Taste Receptors in Uterus May One Day Help Prevent Premature Birth
Jef Akst | Oct 1, 2017 | 4 min read
Researchers suggest that the receptors can control early labor contractions.
Booger Bacteria’s Sweet Immune Suppression
Ruth Williams | Sep 6, 2017 | 3 min read
Sweet taste receptor-activating molecules produced by sinus microbes suppress the local innate immune system in humans.
Why I Had My Sense of Flavor Genotyped
Bob Holmes | May 1, 2017 | 3 min read
One person’s quest to get to the bottom of the unique way he experiences food
Book Excerpt from Flavor
Bob Holmes | Apr 30, 2017 | 4 min read
Author Bob Holmes dove into the taste-determining realm of his genome.
What Sensory Receptors Do Outside of Sense Organs
Sandeep Ravindran | Sep 1, 2016 | 10+ min read
Odor, taste, and light receptors are present in many different parts of the body, and they have surprisingly diverse functions.
Flavor Savors
Jyoti Madhusoodanan | Jan 1, 2016 | 4 min read
Odors experienced via the mouth are essential to our sense of taste.
Lack of Taste
Tracy Vence | Feb 17, 2015 | 1 min read
Scientists pinpoint how penguins may have lost their ability to sense sweet, umami, and bitter flavors.
Vampire Bats Lack Bitter Taste
Jef Akst | Jun 25, 2014 | 2 min read
With a diet of blood, the flying mammals have largely lost the ability to taste bitter flavors.
Roach Motel Vacancies Explained
Ruth Williams | May 23, 2013 | 3 min read
Scientists discover why certain cockroaches avoid eating insecticide-containing sugary bait.
Sensing Calories Without Taste
Francie Diep | Apr 22, 2013 | 4 min read
Rodents and fruit flies appear to be able to sense nutrients even when they can’t taste the food they’re eating. Now, researchers are trying to figure out how.
A Scientist Emerges
Jef Akst | Aug 1, 2012 | 3 min read
At age 16, Alexandra Sourakov has her first scientific publication, on the foraging behavior of butterflies.
Sweet and Sour Science
Ruth Williams | Feb 1, 2012 | 3 min read
Japanese researchers unravel the mystery of miracle fruit.
Cat Cravings
Jef Akst | Jan 1, 2012 | 3 min read
A mutated feline receptor for sweet tastes explains why cats don’t love sugar but do dig mushrooms.
Contributors
The Scientist Staff | Dec 1, 2011 | 2 min read
Meet some of the people featured in the November/December 2011 issue of The Scientist.