A functional comparison of the domestic cat bitter receptors Tas2r38 and Tas2r43 with their human orthologs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Domestic cats (felis catus) have a reputation for being rather unpredictable in their dietary choices. While their appetite for protein or savory flavors is consistent with their nutritional needs, their preference among protein-sufficient dietary options may relate to differences in the response to other flavor characteristics. Studies of domestic cat taste perception are limited, in part, due to the lack of receptor sequence information. Several studies have described the phylogenetic relationship of specific cat taste receptor sequences as compared with other carnivores. For example, domestic cats are obligate carnivores and their receptor Tas1r2, associated with the human perception of sweet, is present only as a pseudogene. Similarly, the cat perception of bitter ma

SUBMITTER: Sandau MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4453034 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature