Study on the role of internal organ bitter taste receptor targeted by food derived compounds

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05908
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: KATO EISUKE 北海道大学, 農学研究院, 准教授 (40466446)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 苦味受容体 / 苦味化合物 / 脂肪細胞 / 肝細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Bitter taste receptors function in various tissues. In this study, we show that bitter taste receptor genes are also expressed in adipose tissue, muscle, and liver. We also showed that bitter taste receptor gene expression in white adipose tissue and various model cell lines fluctuated in response to external stimuli, suggesting that bitter taste receptors may function in these tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, experiments using model cells showed that bitter taste receptor function in adipocytes is related to cell differentiation, and also obtained basal data for estimating bitter taste receptor function in hepatocytes.

Free Research Field

食品機能化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

食品の機能は、食品成分と体の相互作用から生じるが、その詳細は不明であることが多い。味覚受容体は食品成分の標的となる生体分子であるが、口の中以外での機能はあまり分かっていない。口腔外組織における苦味受容体の機能を解析することで、食品の機能の一端を分子レベルで詳細に明らかにすることが期待できる。本研究で得た成果は、今後の苦味受容体研究の基礎として有用であり、食品の機能性を利用した健康維持を前進させる基礎となると期待できる。