Volatile Short-Chain Aliphatic Aldehydes Act as Taste Modulators through the Orally Expressed Calcium-Sensing Receptor CaSR

Aldehydes are natural volatile aroma compounds generated by the Maillard reaction of sugars and amino acids in food and affect the flavor of food. They have been reported to exert taste-modifying effects, such as increases in taste intensity at concentrations below the odor detection threshold. The...

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Main Authors: Seiji Kitajima, Yutaka Maruyama, Motonaka Kuroda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/12/4585
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author Seiji Kitajima
Yutaka Maruyama
Motonaka Kuroda
author_facet Seiji Kitajima
Yutaka Maruyama
Motonaka Kuroda
author_sort Seiji Kitajima
collection DOAJ
description Aldehydes are natural volatile aroma compounds generated by the Maillard reaction of sugars and amino acids in food and affect the flavor of food. They have been reported to exert taste-modifying effects, such as increases in taste intensity at concentrations below the odor detection threshold. The present study examined the taste-enhancing effects of short-chain aliphatic aldehydes, such as isovaleraldehyde (IVAH) and 2-methylbutyraldehyde, thus attempting to identify the taste receptors involved. The results obtained revealed that IVAH enhanced the taste intensity of taste solutions even under the condition of olfactory deprivation by a noseclip. Furthermore, IVAH activated the calcium-sensing receptor CaSR in vitro. Receptor assays on aldehyde analogues showed that C3-C6 aliphatic aldehydes and methional, a C4 sulfur aldehyde, activated CaSR. These aldehydes functioned as a positive allosteric modulator for CaSR. The relationship between the activation of CaSR and taste-modifying effects was investigated by a sensory evaluation. Taste-modifying effects were found to be dependent on the activation state of CaSR. Collectively, these results suggest that short-chain aliphatic aldehydes function as taste modulators that modify sensations by activating orally expressed CaSR. We propose that volatile aroma aldehydes may also partially contribute to the taste-modifying effect via the same molecular mechanism as <i>kokumi</i> substances.
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spelling doaj.art-1b4b4bb082b540b9b63c374c57156c2f2023-11-18T11:47:37ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-06-012812458510.3390/molecules28124585Volatile Short-Chain Aliphatic Aldehydes Act as Taste Modulators through the Orally Expressed Calcium-Sensing Receptor CaSRSeiji Kitajima0Yutaka Maruyama1Motonaka Kuroda2Institute of Food Research & Technologies, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., 1-1 Suzuki-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-8681, Kanagawa, JapanInstitute of Food Research & Technologies, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., 1-1 Suzuki-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-8681, Kanagawa, JapanInstitute of Food Research & Technologies, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., 1-1 Suzuki-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-8681, Kanagawa, JapanAldehydes are natural volatile aroma compounds generated by the Maillard reaction of sugars and amino acids in food and affect the flavor of food. They have been reported to exert taste-modifying effects, such as increases in taste intensity at concentrations below the odor detection threshold. The present study examined the taste-enhancing effects of short-chain aliphatic aldehydes, such as isovaleraldehyde (IVAH) and 2-methylbutyraldehyde, thus attempting to identify the taste receptors involved. The results obtained revealed that IVAH enhanced the taste intensity of taste solutions even under the condition of olfactory deprivation by a noseclip. Furthermore, IVAH activated the calcium-sensing receptor CaSR in vitro. Receptor assays on aldehyde analogues showed that C3-C6 aliphatic aldehydes and methional, a C4 sulfur aldehyde, activated CaSR. These aldehydes functioned as a positive allosteric modulator for CaSR. The relationship between the activation of CaSR and taste-modifying effects was investigated by a sensory evaluation. Taste-modifying effects were found to be dependent on the activation state of CaSR. Collectively, these results suggest that short-chain aliphatic aldehydes function as taste modulators that modify sensations by activating orally expressed CaSR. We propose that volatile aroma aldehydes may also partially contribute to the taste-modifying effect via the same molecular mechanism as <i>kokumi</i> substances.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/12/4585CaSRcalcium-sensing receptoraldehydeisovaleraldehyde<i>kokumi</i> substancemethional
spellingShingle Seiji Kitajima
Yutaka Maruyama
Motonaka Kuroda
Volatile Short-Chain Aliphatic Aldehydes Act as Taste Modulators through the Orally Expressed Calcium-Sensing Receptor CaSR
Molecules
CaSR
calcium-sensing receptor
aldehyde
isovaleraldehyde
<i>kokumi</i> substance
methional
title Volatile Short-Chain Aliphatic Aldehydes Act as Taste Modulators through the Orally Expressed Calcium-Sensing Receptor CaSR
title_full Volatile Short-Chain Aliphatic Aldehydes Act as Taste Modulators through the Orally Expressed Calcium-Sensing Receptor CaSR
title_fullStr Volatile Short-Chain Aliphatic Aldehydes Act as Taste Modulators through the Orally Expressed Calcium-Sensing Receptor CaSR
title_full_unstemmed Volatile Short-Chain Aliphatic Aldehydes Act as Taste Modulators through the Orally Expressed Calcium-Sensing Receptor CaSR
title_short Volatile Short-Chain Aliphatic Aldehydes Act as Taste Modulators through the Orally Expressed Calcium-Sensing Receptor CaSR
title_sort volatile short chain aliphatic aldehydes act as taste modulators through the orally expressed calcium sensing receptor casr
topic CaSR
calcium-sensing receptor
aldehyde
isovaleraldehyde
<i>kokumi</i> substance
methional
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/12/4585
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AT yutakamaruyama volatileshortchainaliphaticaldehydesactastastemodulatorsthroughtheorallyexpressedcalciumsensingreceptorcasr
AT motonakakuroda volatileshortchainaliphaticaldehydesactastastemodulatorsthroughtheorallyexpressedcalciumsensingreceptorcasr