Taste Perception Sample Questions

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Early physiology and biochemistry studies of taste perception included analyses of extracts of rat:

a. Tongue connective tissues

b. Tongue epithelium

c. Brains, particularly the frontal lobe

d. Serum for calcium measurements

e. Peripheral sensory nerves

b. Tongue epithelium

What enzyme was found to be important for the enjoyment of carbonated beverages?

a. α-amylase

b. carbonic anhydrase

c. matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1)

d. transglutaminase

e. lysozyme

b. carbonic anhydrase

The inline model of taste perception requires

a. That specific neurons stimulate only parts of the brain that are programmed to detect a

specific perception.

b. That neurotransmitters are not involved in taste perception.

c. The identity of neurotransmitters defines what taste is perceived.

d. All taste cells express all types of taste receptors.

e. That specific neurons stimulate multiple parts of the brain that together result in a

perception of a specific taste.

a. That specific neurons stimulate only parts of the brain that are programmed to detect a

specific perception.

Taste receptors in the airway epithelium

a. Result in bitter taste perception when toxins are inhaled.

b. Result in protection of the airways by stimulating breathing when exposed to toxins.

c. Result in protection of the airways by stimulating ciliated cells to remove toxins when

exposed.

d. Result in loss of sweet taste perception when exposed to toxins.

e. Result in reduced nitric oxide production when invaded by bacteria.

c. Result in protection of the airways by stimulating ciliated cells to remove toxins when

exposed. 

OR

a. Result in bitter taste perception when toxins are inhaled.

The first taste receptors identified were hypothesized to be G-protein coupled receptors

because

a. GTP levels increased in experimental rats fed proteins.

b. Those were the only class of receptor known at the time.

c. cAMP levels increased after feeding rats sugar, and failed to increase when also fed 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside.

d. ATP levels remained unchanged in experimental rats fed proteins.

e. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter.

c. cAMP levels increased after feeding rats sugar, and failed to increase when also fed 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside.

The fact that T2Rs and gustducin function together was supported by the finding:

a. that T2Rs and gustducin co-localized on taste buds.

b. That cells forced to express both T2Rs and gustducin now responded to a specific bitter tastant by increasing free calcium levels in those cells.

c. That cells forced to express T1Rs and gustducin now did not respond to a specific bitter tastant.

d. Gustducin knockout mice cannot taste the same bitter compound, determined in behavioral studies, while wildtype mice can.

e. All of the above.

b. That cells forced to express both T2Rs and gustducin now responded to a specific bitter tastant by increasing free calcium levels in those cells.

Increased cAMP levels found in the tongue epithelium after exposure to a tastant implicates which type of receptor family as being taste receptors?

a. tyrosine kinase receptor

b. G-coupled protein receptor

c. TRP ion channel

d. Serine/threonine kinase receptor

e. Nuclear receptor

b. G-coupled protein receptor

The fact that there is only one known sweet taste receptor and at least 30 bitter receptors is thought to be related to

a. Findings that a small minority of people prefer bitter flavors over sweet flavors

b. The knowledge that glucose is the only sweet tastant known to humans.

c. A protective evolutionary advantage that permits humans to avoid ingesting a wide variety of potentially toxic chemicals.

d. The possibility that there are additional sweet taste receptors that have not been discovered.

e. The finding that sour taste perception is mediated by an ion channel.

c. A protective evolutionary advantage that permits humans to avoid ingesting a wide variety of potentially toxic chemicals.