Molecular logic of salt taste reception in special reference to transmembrane channel-like 4 (TMC4)

Yoichi Kasahara; Masataka Narukawa; Ayako Takeuchi; Makoto Tominaga; Keiko Abe; Tomiko Asakura

doi:10.1186/s12576-022-00856-y

Molecular logic of salt taste reception in special reference to transmembrane channel-like 4 (TMC4)

J Physiol Sci. 2022 Nov 30;72(1):31. doi: 10.1186/s12576-022-00856-y.

Authors

Yoichi Kasahara¹, Masataka Narukawa^{1

2}, Ayako Takeuchi³, Makoto Tominaga^{4

5}, Keiko Abe^{1

6}, Tomiko Asakura⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
² Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyoto Women's University, 35 Kitahiyoshicho Imakumano, Higashiyama, Kyoto, 605-8501, Japan.
³ Department of Integrative and Systems Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, and Life Science Innovation Center, University of Fukui, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan.
⁴ Division of Cell Signaling, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Aza-Higashiyama, Myodaijicho, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.
⁵ Thermal Biology Research Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Aza-Higashiyama, Myodaijicho, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.
⁶ Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (KISTEC), Life Science & Environment Research Center (LiSE), 3-25-13 Tonomachi Kawasaki-Ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-0821, Japan.
⁷ Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan. asakura@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp.

Abstract

The taste is biologically of intrinsic importance. It almost momentarily perceives environmental stimuli for better survival. In the early 2000s, research into taste reception was greatly developed with discovery of the receptors. However, the mechanism of salt taste reception is not fully elucidated yet and many questions still remain. At present, next-generation sequencing and genome-editing technologies are available which would become pivotal tools to elucidate the remaining issues. Here we review current mechanisms of salt taste reception in particular and characterize the properties of transmembrane channel-like 4 as a novel salt taste-related molecule that we found using these sophisticated tools.

Keywords: Amiloride-insensitive; Anion effect; Chloride channel; Salty taste; TMC4.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Taste*