Chloride ions evoke taste sensations by binding to the extracellular ligand-binding domain of sweet/umami taste receptors.

Salt taste sensation is multifaceted: NaCl at low or high concentrations is preferably or aversively perceived through distinct pathways. Cl is thought to participate in taste sensation through an unknown mechanism. Here, we describe Cl ion binding and the response of taste receptor type 1 (T1r), a receptor family composing sweet/umami receptors.

The Age-Dependent Changes of the Human Adrenal Cortical Zones Are Not Congruent.

Background: While previous studies indicate that the zonae reticularis (ZR) and glomerulosa (ZG) diminish with aging, little is known about age-related transformations of the zona fasciculata (ZF).

Objectives: To investigate the morphological and functional changes of the adrenal cortex across adulthood, with emphasis on (i) the understudied ZF and (ii) sexual dimorphisms.

Methods: We used immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2), visinin-like protein 1 (VSNL1), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II (HSD3B2), 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), and cytochrome b5 type A (CYB5A) in adrenal glands from 60 adults (30 men), aged 18 to 86.

Intratumoral heterogeneity of the tumor cells based on in situ cortisol excess in cortisol-producing adenomas; ∼An association among morphometry, genotype and cellular senescence∼.

Cortisol-producing adrenocortical adenomas (CPAs) are associated with ACTH-independent Cushing's syndrome and histologically composed of two cellular subtypes: compact (lipid-poor) and clear (lipid-rich) tumor cells. However, the details of hormonal and biological activities of these tumor cells have remained unknown, especially in CPAs. CPAs frequently harbored unique histological features different from those of aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) including a senescent phenotype.

Structural basis for perception of diverse chemical substances by T1r taste receptors.

The taste receptor type 1 (T1r) family perceives 'palatable' tastes. These receptors function as T1r2-T1r3 and T1r1-T1r3 heterodimers to recognize a wide array of sweet and umami (savory) tastes in sugars and amino acids. Nonetheless, it is unclear how diverse tastes are recognized by so few receptors.

Taste substance binding elicits conformational change of taste receptor T1r heterodimer extracellular domains.

Sweet and umami tastes are perceived by T1r taste receptors in oral cavity. T1rs are class C G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and the extracellular ligand binding domains (LBDs) of T1r1/T1r3 and T1r2/T1r3 heterodimers are responsible for binding of chemical substances eliciting umami or sweet taste. However, molecular analyses of T1r have been hampered due to the difficulties in recombinant expression and protein purification, and thus little is known about mechanisms for taste perception.