Peptide Signaling in Taste Transduction

Taste receptor cells sense various chemical compounds in foods and transmit these signals through gustatory nerve fibers to the central nervous system. These sensory signals are vitally important for life; they provide information about which prospective foods are nutritious and warnings as to those that are noxious. Recent studies have revealed the involvement of multifarious bioactive peptides, many of which are primarily identified organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, in the modulation of taste responses. These peptides affect peripheral taste responsiveness of animals and play important roles in the regulation of feeding behavior and the maintenance of homeostasis. In this chapter, we discuss the various functions of peptide signaling in the peripheral taste system.