The Science of Sushi: New Research Gives Insight into “Wasabi Receptor”
Anyone who is a fan of sushi is well-acquainted with the brief but strong burning sensation that comes when you get a little too much wasabi on the tongue. Scientists have known for about a decade now that wasabi activates a receptor in your brain called the TRPA1 receptor. But now, the exact molecular structure of this receptor has been seen for the first time. And this research is giving insights that could have ramifications far beyond your favorite sushi roll. Learn more about what’s happening with the so-called “wasabi receptor” in this week’s blog!
The Wasabi Receptor
The wasabi receptor TRPA1 (which stands for transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1, if you want to impress your dinner date) is a protein that exists on the membrane of cells in your body. Wasabi is one of the things that activates this receptor. When it senses the presence of wasabi, TRPA1 sends a message to your brain which is essentially a distress signal. The protein is telling your brain, “Hey, this is hot, watch out!”
The TRPA1 receptor actually plays a very important role in pain perception in your body. That’s why you get that stinging/burning sensation in your head. But because it’s involved in the sensation of pain, scientists are interested in studying it, because knowing how pain is experienced in the body can help with the development of new pain relievers.
So the big news now is that scientists have finally observed the actually molecular structure of the TRPA1 receptor. David Julies and Yifan Cheng, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, used a special electron microscope used “to study biological samples at very low temperatures,” which gave them “a precise, three-dimensional, structural model of the receptor. The model shows how the receptor opens a channel to the nerve cell’s interior and sends a distress signal to the brain when exposed to certain chemicals.” From NPR:
Drugs that affect TRPA1 receptors are desirable because they work in a different way than do existing pain relievers, Julius says. And because TRPA1 receptors are highly concentrated in the nerve fibers involved in pain sensation, he says, the new drugs would be less likely to produce side effects like addiction or stomach problems.
Catonsville Gourmet: The Best Fresh Seafood in the Baltimore Area
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