| Autor: |
Ball L; TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany.; Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany., Frey T; TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany.; Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany.; Tecan Deutschland GmbH, Crailsheim 74564, Germany., Haag F; Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany., Frank S; Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany., Hoffmann S; Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany., Laska M; IFM Biology, Linköping University, Linköping 581 83, Sweden., Steinhaus M; Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany., Neuhaus K; Core Facility Microbiome, ZIEL - Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany., Krautwurst D; Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany. |
| Abstrakt: |
Geosmin, a ubiquitous volatile sesquiterpenoid of microbiological origin, is causative for deteriorating the quality of many foods, beverages, and drinking water, by eliciting an undesirable "earthy/musty" off-flavor. Moreover, and across species from worm to human, geosmin is a volatile, chemosensory trigger of both avoidance and attraction behaviors, suggesting its role as semiochemical. Volatiles typically are detected by chemosensory receptors of the nose, which have evolved to best detect ecologically relevant food-related odorants and semiochemicals. An insect receptor for geosmin was recently identified in flies. A human geosmin-selective receptor, however, has been elusive. Here, we report on the identification and characterization of a human odorant receptor for geosmin, with its function being conserved in orthologs across six mammalian species. Notably, the receptor from the desert-dwelling kangaroo rat showed a more than 100-fold higher sensitivity compared to its human ortholog and detected geosmin at low nmol/L concentrations in extracts from geosmin-producing actinomycetes. |
