Taste detection and transduction mechanisms in taste cells

Abstract

A single taste bud comprises approximately 50–100 taste cells. Taste substances are detected by taste cells. The taste signal is transmitted to gustatory nerves via the intracellular transduction system, and then input to the central nervous system. In mammals, taste is classified into five basic taste qualities: sweet, bitter, umami, sour, and salty. Taste cells are responsible for detecting each taste by expressing taste receptors, which specifically detect each taste quality. In this manuscript, we review recent knowledge regarding taste detection and transduction mechanisms in taste cells.