The elucidation of taste coding mechanisms based on imaging techniques

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K12322
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Eating habits
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Okada Shinji 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 特任准教授 (50376563)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 味覚 / イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms in taste reception, we have tried to build its assay system based on in vivo Ca2+-imaging technique. Two lines of transgenic animals expressing Ca2+-indicator proteins in their taste bud cells were successfully established. Slight but significant changes of fluorescence in their taste bud cells were observed after the stimulation of taste solution. Further improvement of this assay system would enable the evaluation of taste of foods with highly complicated composition and contribute to both the basic research of taste reception and the food product development.

Free Research Field

食品科学