LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Findings published January 25th, in the esteemed journal Science, show that scientists at the University of Southern California discovered a new class of ion channels that are important in the inner ear for balance, and are also present in the taste cells that respond to sour flavors.
These ion channels let protons into cells. Protons set pH level, controlling whether a solution is acidic or basic. Because sour taste is the perception of acidic substances, which have a high concentration of protons, USC scientists predicted that sour taste cells have an ion channel that responds to or transports protons.
Eight years ago, the USC lab used biophysical approaches to show that protons enter taste cells through a specialized proton channel in the cell membrane. The gene encoding this channel and the structural properties of the proton channel were unknown, but now research has identified the otopetrin family of genes, also present in the vestibular system, as encoding proton-conducting ion channels.
Taste cells at back of the tongue. Red-colored cells detect sour taste and the green-colored cells detect bitter, sweet or umami. The cell nuclei are colored blue. Image courtesy: Yu-Hsiang Tu and Emily Liman
“We never in a million years expected that the molecule that we were looking for in taste cells would also be found in the vestibular system. This highlights the power of basic or fundamental research.” –Emily Liman, PhD
Very interesting. What you taste may be your downfall!
Yikes…