Search method for taste bud cell marker molecule using Skn-1a / i knockout mouse

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for searching I-, II-, and III-type taste bud cell marker molecules, a use of gene/protein involved in receiving salty taste and gene/protein for identifying salty-taste substitutes or salty-taste enhancing substances, and a use of knockout mice or cultured cells for screening the salty-taste substitutes or the salty-taste enhancing substances/salty-taste receptors.SOLUTION: A screening method of taste substances includes, allowing Skn-la/i knockout mice to ingest candidate substances of the taste substances, and performing a behaviour analysis of the mice. The taste substances are selected from a group comprising salty substances, sweet substances, delicious substances, bitter substances and sour substances.