Communications Biology (Apr 2021)

Sweet taste of heavy water

  • Natalie Ben Abu,
  • Philip E. Mason,
  • Hadar Klein,
  • Nitzan Dubovski,
  • Yaron Ben Shoshan-Galeczki,
  • Einav Malach,
  • Veronika Pražienková,
  • Lenka Maletínská,
  • Carmelo Tempra,
  • Victor Cruces Chamorro,
  • Josef Cvačka,
  • Maik Behrens,
  • Masha Y. Niv,
  • Pavel Jungwirth

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-01964-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Ben Abu, Mason and colleagues use molecular dynamics, cell-based experiments, mouse models, and human subjects to determine that, unlike ordinary water, heavy water tastes sweet to humans, but not mice. Mechanistically, this effect is mediated by the human TAS1R/TAS1R3 sweet taste receptor.