Taste Receptor News and Research

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Yale study finds garlic acts as birth control for mosquitoes

Garlic is not a substance that most people consider an aphrodisiac. It turns out that mosquitoes agree.

11 May 2026

Do artificial sweeteners increase appetite or food intake?

The study evaluates artificial sweeteners' role in appetite regulation, showing no significant effects on hunger or energy intake during weight management.

20 Mar 2026

Long COVID taste loss tied to reduced expression of key taste genes

The study identifies molecular changes in taste receptor cells as a potential cause of persistent taste dysfunction in long COVID-19, impacting quality of life.

5 Mar 2026

Persistent taste dysfunction after COVID 19 linked to cellular abnormalities

Scientists have identified molecular and structural changes in taste buds that may explain why a small subset of people experience long-term taste loss after COVID-19 infection.

2 Mar 2026

AlphaFold3 predicts bitter taste receptor structures with greater accuracy

Receptor proteins, expressed on the cell surface or within the cell, bind to different signaling molecules, known as ligands, initiating cellular responses.

16 Sep 2025

Sucralose disrupts male fertility by damaging sperm and altering hormones in animal study

Researchers found that chronic sucralose exposure in male rats disrupted reproductive hormones, damaged sperm, and impaired testicular function through oxidative stress and autophagy dysregulation. These findings raise concerns about the reproductive risks of high sucralose intake and its persistent presence in the environment.

19 May 2025

Uncovering the architecture of the human sugar sensor

Our attraction to sugar has grown to an unhealthy level. The average person in the United States now consumes more than 100 pounds of the sweet stuff every year, up from 18 pounds in 1800.

7 May 2025

Ibuprofen suppresses sweet taste perception

Researchers explore how taste receptors react to sweet stimuli following exposure to ibuprofen.

31 Mar 2025

Anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce metabolic disease risk by inhibiting the sweet taste receptor

Past studies have shown that the human sweet taste receptor conveys sweet perception in the mouth and may help regulate glucose metabolism throughout the body.

25 Mar 2025

Global study sheds light on differences in medicine taste sensitivity

Many medicines taste so bitter that some people avoid taking them. To help with the bad taste, flavors and sweeteners are added to modify the taste and make it more acceptable.

4 Mar 2025

Can red ginseng prevent diabetes? New research uncovers its potential

Red ginseng extract powder significantly improved glycemic control in prediabetic Korean adults over 12 weeks without adverse effects. The findings suggest its potential role in diabetes prevention, though larger studies are needed.

23 Feb 2025

Unfolded protein response disruptions contribute to colorectal cancer and gut-related disorders

The intestinal epithelium is a highly dynamic barrier that regulates digestion, absorption, immune responses, and communication between the gut microbiota and the nervous system.

20 Feb 2025

Genetic predisposition plays a role in how coffee tastes bitter to some more than others

Why does coffee taste more bitter to some people than it does to others? Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich have now come closer to answering this question.

29 Jan 2025

COVID-19 and metallic taste: Study connects immunoglobulin levels to sensory impairment

Researchers investigated whether COVID-19-related sensory deficiencies are associated with transcriptome changes in the foliate papillae area of the tongue.

9 Jul 2024

Do taste genes influence how much alcohol we drink and our body fat?

Study examines how polymorphisms in bitter taste receptor genes relate to alcohol consumption and body fat percentage, revealing significant associations with TAS2R13 but not TAS2R38.

9 Jun 2024

Monell study uncovers dual role of mammalian sweet taste receptor in regulating blood sugar levels

The rich research portfolio of the Monell Chemical Senses Center on sweet taste goes way back: Monell scientists were one of four teams in 2001 that found and described the mammalian sweet taste receptor – TAS1R2-TAS1R3.

17 May 2024

Genes dictate taste: Study finds genetic links to food preferences

Study reveals the significant impact of genetic variations on adult dietary preferences, highlighting the complex interplay between genetics and food choices.

13 Feb 2024

Numbing agent lidocaine may have cancer-fighting properties

Lidocaine - often used as numbing agent for outpatient medical procedures - activates certain bitter taste receptors through two unique mechanisms that result in cancer cell death, according to researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

22 Nov 2023

Study reveals contrasting effects of sucralose on insulin and glucose control

Sucralose, a commonly used artificial sweetener, has contrasting effects on insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis. While bolus administration of sucralose enhances insulin secretion and decreases glucose levels, long-term consumption exacerbates insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, particularly in combination with a high-fat diet. The study highlights the involvement of the T1R3-ERK1/2 pathway in sucralose-induced insulin resistance in the liver.

22 Jun 2023

Study may pave way for a more nuanced understanding of taste perception

Humans perceive five basic taste sensations: sweet, umami, bitter, salty, and sour. Specific foods trigger taste recognition of these sensations through the activation of different receptors in our taste buds.

23 Mar 2023