TASTE RESPONSES TO AMINO-ACIDS IN COMMON MARMOSETS (CALLITHRIX-JACCHUS-JACCHUS, CALLITRICHIDAE) A NONHUMAN PRIMATE IN COMPARISON TO HUMANS

In the past two decades a large number of compounds have been synthesi zed and evaluated for sweetness. The basis of these compounds are ofte n peptides and proteins. In humans we already know that some amino aci ds taste sweet. However, no results res yet exist on taste responses t o all 20 amino acids in a non-human primate species. Taste responses t o amino acids were ascertained in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus jacchus) and compared with human responses. The marmosets differed in gustatory responses to six of the D-enantiomorphs (D-Cys, D-Met, D-Ph e, D-Tyr, D-Lys, D-Arg) and to seven of the L-enantiomorphs (L-Ser, L- Thr, L-Gln, L-Ala, L-Pro, L-Cys, L-Met). No positive reactions were fo und to any of the L-amino acids occurring naturally When compared to h umans and to other non-human primates the marmosets tested possess the lowest developed sweetness receptor in the order of primates. (C) 199 8 Academic Press.