Variant in a common odorant-binding protein gene is associated with bitter sensitivity in people

TOMASSINI BARBAROSSA, IOLE;Ozdener, M. Hakan;MELIS, MELANIA;Love Gregory, Latisha;Mitreva, Makedonka;Abumrad, Nada A.;Pepino, M. Yanina

2017-01-01

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Abstract

Deeper understanding of signaling mechanisms underlying bitterness perception in people is essential for designing novel and effective bitter blockers, which could enhance nutrition and compliance with orally administered bitter-tasting drugs. Here we show that variability in a human odorant-binding protein gene, OBPIIa, associates with individual differences in bitterness perception of fat (oleic acid) and of a prototypical bitter stimulus, 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), suggesting a novel olfactory role in the modulation of bitterness sensitivity.