TAS2R Receptor Screening for Sucralose Bitterness Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sucralose, a popular sweetener, is limited in use due to its bitter off-note or aftertaste, which existing technologies have not effectively addressed by identifying modulators that can inhibit or mask this bitterness.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying and utilizing specific agonists of bitter taste receptors (TAS2R44, TAS2R1, TAS2R10, and TAS2R46) to find agents that modulate the response to sucralose, such as antagonists or masking agents, by contacting cells expressing these receptors with sucralose and testing for changes in binding or functional responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If sucralose is used as a sweetener, then sweetness is provided, but bitter aftertaste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses TAS2R bitter taste receptors as intermediaries to identify modulators. These receptors serve as mediators between sucralose and the detection system, enabling the identification of compounds that can modulate sucralose's bitter aftertaste effect through receptor-based screening methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful bitter aftertaste effect into a beneficial identification tool. By utilizing the bitter taste receptors that detect sucralose's bitter effect, the invention enables screening for modulators that can eliminate this harmful effect, thus transforming the problematic property into a useful screening mechanism
2Object-generated harmful factors
If modulators are identified to reduce bitter aftertaste, then bitter aftertaste is reduced, but identification complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex human sensory evaluation systems with a biochemical detection system based on TAS2R receptors. This substitution allows for objective, quantifiable measurement of bitter taste modulation through receptor binding assays, eliminating the subjectivity and complexity of human panel testing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the bitter taste detection function from complex human sensory systems and isolates it into specific TAS2R receptor proteins. These extracted receptors can be used in simplified in vitro assays, separating the essential detection function from the complexity of whole-organism sensory processing
Data Source
AI summary
Sucralose-binding TAS2R bitter taste receptors have been identified. Novel methods to identify modulators and in particular inhibitors to the bitter taste of sucralose, and an inhibitor, are provided.