(Continued) PNAS: Scientists find another key protein that helps humans feel the taste doi:10.1073/pnas.1718802115 Until now, many scientists believe that a protein called TRPM5 is the key to distinguish these tastes. When TRPM5 is removed from human taste cells, they can no longer taste sweet, bitter or salty foods. The results of a recent study challenged this existing concept. According to an article recently published in PNAS, the…
ion channel
The Latest Research Progress of Ion Channels (I)
It has been known that most of the substances that are of significance to life are water-soluble, such as various ions and sugars. They need to enter the cells, and the water-soluble wastes produced during the life activities need leave the cells. Ion channels are made up of special proteins. They assemble and embed in the cell membrane. The pores form in the middle occupied by water molecules. These pores…
Nature: Further Progress in Three-dimensional Structure of Piezo1 Ion Channel and Its gating Mechanism Analysis
With the funding of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Xiao Bailong Task Force of the School of Medicine of Tsinghua University and the Li Xueming Research Group of the Tsinghua University College of Science and Technology undertook a collaborative study. The research results were published in Nature, titled as Structure and Mechanogating Mechanism of the Piezo1 Channel. This study reveals the high-resolution, three-dimensional structure of…