Specific molecular features create the sensation of sweetness
Multiple molecular and structural studies confirm that specific molecular features and binding interactions with sweet taste receptors dictate the sensation of sweetness.
The retrieved papers consistently demonstrate that sweet taste perception is governed by specific molecular features, structures, and receptor-ligand interactions involving the T1R2/T1R3 sweet taste receptors. Studies analyzing sweet proteins, small molecules, and natural sweeteners consistently support the link between molecular structures and sweetness sensation.
Piero Andrea Temussi. Determinants of sweetness in proteins: a topological approach. 2011. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmr.1152
Paper 0 establishes that topological approaches and structural analyses can successfully map the determinants of sweetness in proteins like monellin and brazzein.
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Tomoya Nakagita, Akihiro Itoigawa, Shinji Okada, Takumi Misaka. The Renowned Flavor Compound Cinnamaldehyde Induces Sweet Taste by Targeting the Transmembrane Domain of T1R3 in the Sweet Taste Receptor. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.03.643902
Paper 2 demonstrates that specific molecular and structural features of compounds like cinnamaldehyde dictate their ability to interact with the sweet taste receptor as agonists and modulators.
Kiewhuo K, Basharat G, Rungrotmongkol T, Vangnai A. Structural and Energetic Determinants of Sweet Protein Recognition: Mechanistic Insights into Thaumatin Binding to the Human T1R2/T1R3 Receptor.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27094119
Paper 3 identifies specific residue-level structural and energetic determinants for sweet protein recognition and binding at the human sweet taste receptor.
Cornut C, Belloir C, Karolkowski A, Lalis M, Chometton S, Fiorucci S, Topin J, Briand L. Sweet and umami TAS1R receptors: from molecular recognition to physiological function.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjag010
Paper 5 details the structure-function analyses and molecular basis for the recognition of sweet tastants by TAS1R receptors.
Yao B, Dou C, Zhang Y, Liu B. Characterization of the sweetness of natural plant-derived sweeteners mogroside IV and V and their interactions with human sweet taste receptor.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biochi.2026.02.008
Paper 11 characterizes the structure-activity relationship and molecular binding sites of mogrosides within the human sweet taste receptor.
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