Sweetness and sweeteners - Neoculin, a taste-modifying protein
5 important questions on Sweetness and sweeteners - Neoculin, a taste-modifying protein
What is neoculin (NCL)?
How can NCL activate the T1R2/T1R3 receptors?
- at acidic pH --> cells are activated and the compound is perceived as sweet
- neutral pH --> no activity, no sweetness
Which amino acid residues cause the activity of NCL?
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What happens to NCL at acidic pH?
- Histidine, arginine and lysine --> protonated and positively charged
- Aspartic acid and glutamic acid --> protonated and neutral
- The positive charges in the heterodimer induce electrostatic repulsion, and the protein is thought to obtain an open conformation.
What happens to NCL at neutral pH?
- Histidine --> lost positive charge and is neutral
- Arginine and lysine --> positive charge
- Aspartic acid and glutamic acid --> lose their proton, negatively charged
- More attraction between the subunits.
- The protein adopts the closed conformation.
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