Melastatin transient receptor potential channel type 5

Abstract

Fat is one of the three major nutrients but it is not a sapid substance which activates one of the five basic tastes, sweet, bitter, sour, salt, and umami. However, we have experience that fat changes the taste of dishes largely. Transient receptor potential M5 (TRPM5) channel is not a receptor of the five basic tastes but it is gated after stimulation of the gustducin-coupled receptors for sweet, bitter, and umami. TRPM5 channel is a cation channel and depolarizes the taste cell, indicating that TRPM5 channel relates to the formation of tastes. The activities of some TRP channels (TRPV2, TRPV4, TRPM2, and TRPA1 channels) are regulated by lipids. I will review the TRP channels and taste transduction.