Polymorphic variants in Sweet and Umami taste receptor genes and birthweight

Abstract

The first thousand days of life from conception have a significant impact on the health status with short, and long-term effects. Among several anthropometric and maternal lifestyle parameters birth weight plays a crucial role on the growth and neurological development of infants. Recent genome wide association studies (GWAS) have demonstrated a robust foetal and maternal genetic background of birth weight, however only a small proportion of the genetic hereditability has been already identified. Considering the extensive number of phenotypes on which they are involved, we focused on identifying the possible effect of genetic variants belonging to taste receptor genes and birthweight. In the human genome there are two taste receptors family the bitter receptors (TAS2Rs) and the sweet and umami receptors (TAS1Rs). In particular sweet perception is due to a heterodimeric receptor encoded by the TAS1R2 and the TAS1R3 gene, while the umami taste receptor is encoded by the TAS1R1 and the TAS1R3 genes. We observed that carriers of the T allele of the TAS1R1-rs4908932 SNPs showed an increase in birthweight compared to GG homozygotes Coeff: 87.40 (35.13–139.68) p-value = 0.001. The association remained significant after correction for multiple testing. TAS1R1-rs4908932 is a potentially functional SNP and is in linkage disequilibrium with another polymorphism that has been associated with BMI in adults showing the importance of this variant from the early stages of conception through all the adult life.

Taste receptors affect male reproduction by influencing steroid synthesis

“…Besides, the TAS1Rs polymorphisms are linked to food intake, overweight and gastric cancer in humans. For example, the SNP of T allele of TAS1R1 -rs4908932 SNPs caused increased birth weights compared to the GG homozygotes ( Farinella et al, 2021 ) Table 1 .…”

Molecular insights into human taste perception and umami tastants: A review

“…Farinella et al. (2021) showed that certain SNPs for TAS1R1 and TAS1R2 did associate with birth weight, whereas those selected for TAS1R3 did not.…”

“…A recent study provided proof that several SNPs are associated with interindividual differences in sensitivity and preference for umami (Chamoun et al, 2021). Farinella et al (2021) showed that certain SNPs for TAS1R1 and TAS1R2 did associate with birth weight, whereas those selected for TAS1R3 did not.…”

TAS1 receptors. An overview of their functions, expression and genetic variations

“…Babies carrying the rs4908932 variant are on average 87 grams heavier at birth. Although it is yet unclear what the phenotypic consequences of this mutation are, the carriers seem to present a stronger methylation of the DNA in many tissues of the gastrointestinal tract (Farinella et al, 2021). The rs11261087 TAS1R2 variant was associated with pancreatic cancer in a study of almost 15 thousand people, while the normal variant is considered to offer protection from the development of this disease (Gentiluomo et al, 2019).…”