Multiple interaction modes between saccharin and sweet taste receptors determine a species-dependent response to saccharin

Abstract

Saccharin is a commonly used artificial sweetener that exhibits both sweetening and sweet inhibition activities. The species-dependent response towards saccharin and the interaction between saccharin and the sweet taste receptor T1R2/T1R3 remain elusive. In this study we used mismatched chimeras of T1R2 and T1R3 and calcium mobilization functional analysis to reveal a detailed species-dependent response towards saccharin of human, squirrel monkey, and mouse sweet taste receptors. Our findings, combined with previous results by others, suggest multiple and complex interaction modes between saccharin and the sweet taste receptor, which are helpful guidelines for effective modulation of the sweet taste by sweetener/sweet inhibitors.

Keywords: allosteric binding site; inhibition, interaction modes; saccharin; species-dependent sweet taste; sweet taste receptor.