Genetic Variation of an Odorant Receptor OR7D4 and Sensory Perception of Cooked Meat Containing Androstenone

Lunde, Kathrine; Egelandsdal, Bjørg; Skuterud, Ellen; Mainland, Joel D.; Lea, Tor; Hersleth, Margrethe; Matsunami, Hiroaki

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035259

Cited by 70 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…We and others showed previously that the intensity perception of androstenone and androstadienone—the two most variably perceived stimuli in our study—is altered by genetic variation in the odorous steroid-sensitive odorant receptor OR7D4 [19,21,23]. Here we show in the same subject population that androstadienone was perceived to be stronger by older subjects (Figure 5d) and women (Figure 5e).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 76%

An olfactory demography of a diverse metropolitan population

et al. 2012

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BackgroundHuman perception of the odour environment is highly variable. People vary both in their general olfactory acuity as well as in if and how they perceive specific odours. In recent years, it has been shown that genetic differences contribute to variability in both general olfactory acuity and the perception of specific odours. Odour perception also depends on other factors such as age and gender. Here we investigate the influence of these factors on both general olfactory acuity and on the perception of 66 structurally and perceptually different odours in a diverse subject population.ResultsWe carried out a large human olfactory psychophysics study of 391 adult subjects in metropolitan New York City, an ethnically and culturally diverse North American metropolis. 210 of the subjects were women and the median age was 34.6 years (range 19–75). We recorded ~2,300 data points per subject to obtain a comprehensive perceptual phenotype, comprising multiple perceptual measures of 66 diverse odours. We show that general olfactory acuity correlates with gender, age, race, smoking habits, and body type. Young, female, non-smoking subjects had the highest average olfactory acuity. Deviations from normal body type in either direction were associated with decreased olfactory acuity. Beyond these factors we also show that, surprisingly, there are many odour-specific influences of race, age, and gender on olfactory perception. We show over 100 instances in which the intensity or pleasantness perception of an odour is significantly different between two demographic groups.ConclusionsThese data provide a comprehensive snapshot of the olfactory sense of a diverse population. Olfactory acuity in the population is most strongly influenced by age, followed by gender. We also show a large number of diverse correlations between demographic factors and the perception of individual odours that may reflect genetic differences as well as different prior experiences with these odours between demographic groups.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 76%

An olfactory demography of a diverse metropolitan population

et al. 2012

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“…In one recent study, anstrostenone-containing meat was found to be less acceptable to subjects with two copies of the RT variant of the OR7D4 receptor, indicating that this genetic variation affects food preferences (Lunde, et al, 2012). The existence of this taint in pork is already a particular problem for pork producers, and one that may become may become more worrisome in Europe, where a proposed ban on pig castration due to animal cruelty issues could lead to a rise in androstenone levels in pork, and subsequently reduce consumer acceptance.…”

Section: Odormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The existence of this taint in pork is already a particular problem for pork producers, and one that may become may become more worrisome in Europe, where a proposed ban on pig castration due to animal cruelty issues could lead to a rise in androstenone levels in pork, and subsequently reduce consumer acceptance. In Norway for example, approximately 40% of the population is sensitive to this odor (Lunde, et al, 2012). It is unclear whether the proportion of androstenone-sensitive individuals varies in different countries, but if so, it may impact the areas from which pork products are imported to different countries, with consequential economic considerations (Lunde, et al, 2012).…”

Section: Odormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Norway for example, approximately 40% of the population is sensitive to this odor (Lunde, et al, 2012). It is unclear whether the proportion of androstenone-sensitive individuals varies in different countries, but if so, it may impact the areas from which pork products are imported to different countries, with consequential economic considerations (Lunde, et al, 2012). …”

Section: Odormentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do polymorphisms in chemosensory genes matter for human ingestive behavior?

Hayes

Feeney

Allen

2013

Food Quality and Preference

146

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In the last decade, basic research in chemoreceptor genetics and neurobiology have revolutionized our understanding of individual differences in chemosensation. From an evolutionary perspective, chemosensory variations appear to have arisen in response to different living environments, generally in the avoidance of toxins and to better detect vital food sources. Today, it is often assumed that these differences may drive variable food preferences and choices, with downstream effects on health and wellness. A growing body of evidence indicates chemosensory variation is far more complex than previously believed. However, just because a genetic polymorphism results in altered receptor function in cultured cells or even behavioral phenotypes in the laboratory, this variation may not be sufficient to influence food choice in free living humans. Still, there is ample evidence to indicate allelic variation in TAS2R38 predicts variation in bitterness of synthetic pharmaceuticals (e.g., propylthiouracil) and natural plant compounds (e.g., goitrin), and this variation associates with differential intake of alcohol and vegetables. Further, this is only one of 25 unique bitter taste genes (TAS2Rs) in humans, and emerging evidence suggests other TAS2Rs may also contain polymorphisms that a functional with respect to ingestive behavior. For example, TAS2R16 polymorphisms are linked to the bitterness of naturally occurring plant compounds and alcoholic beverage intake, a TAS2R19 polymorphism predicts differences in quinine bitterness and grapefruit bitterness and liking, and TAS2R31 polymorphisms associate with differential bitterness of plant compounds like aristolochic acid and the sulfonyl amide sweeteners saccharin and acesulfame-K. More critically with respect to food choices, these polymorphisms may vary independently from each other within and across individuals, meaning a monolithic one-size-fits-all approach to bitterness needs to be abandoned. Nor are genetic differences restricted to bitterness. Perceptual variation has also been associated with polymorphisms in genes involved in odors associated with meat defects (boar taint), green/grassy notes, and cilantro, as well as umami and sweet tastes (TAS1R1/2/3). Here, a short primer on receptor genetics is provided, followed by a summary of current knowledge, and implications for human ingestive behavior are discussed.

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“…The OR7D4 genotype explained 39% and 19% of the variance in intensity rating and perceived pleasantness of these odors, respectively [32]. As androstenone occurs in pork derived from male pig, the OR7D4 genotype is also shown to affect food preference, with subjects carrying the more sensitive OR7D4 variant tending to rate the androstenone-containing meat as less favorable [34]. The OR7D4 genotype is also correlated with the rating of partner odors in heterosexual partners, which in turn associates with scores of anxiety and depression [35].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mammalian odorant receptors: functional evolution and variation

Jiang

Matsunami

2015

Current Opinion in Neurobiology

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In mammals, the perception of smell starts with the activation of odorant receptors (ORs) by volatile molecules in the environment. The mammalian OR repertoire has been subject to rapid evolution, and is highly diverse within the human population. Recent advances in the functional expression and ligand identification of ORs allow for functional analysis of OR evolution, and reveal that changes in OR protein sequences translate into high degrees of functional variations. Moreover, in several cases the functional variation of a single OR affects the perception of its cognate odor ligand, providing clues as to how an odor is coded at the receptor level.

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Genetic Variation of an Odorant Receptor OR7D4 and Sensory Perception of Cooked Meat Containing Androstenone

Cited by 70 publications

References 21 publications

An olfactory demography of a diverse metropolitan population

An olfactory demography of a diverse metropolitan population

Do polymorphisms in chemosensory genes matter for human ingestive behavior?

Mammalian odorant receptors: functional evolution and variation

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