Title: Mark T. Zoller: Innovator in Taste Receptor Research
Introduction
Mark T. Zoller is a notable inventor in the field of taste receptor research. He has made significant contributions to the understanding of how taste receptors function and interact. His work has implications for the food and beverage industry, particularly in the development of flavor enhancers and sweeteners.
Latest Patents
Mark T. Zoller holds a patent titled "T1R Hetero-Oligomeric Taste Receptors And Cell Lines That Express Said Receptors And Use Thereof For Identification Of Taste Compounds." This invention relates to the discovery that T1R receptors can assemble to form functional taste receptors. Specifically, it has been found that the co-expression of T1R1 and T1R3 results in a receptor that responds to umami taste stimuli, such as monosodium glutamate. Additionally, the co-expression of T1R2 and T1R3 leads to a receptor that responds to sweet taste stimuli, including both natural and artificial sweeteners. The invention also discusses the use of these hetero-oligomeric taste receptors in assays to identify compounds that elicit umami and sweet taste responses.
Career Highlights
Throughout his career, Mark T. Zoller has worked with various companies, including Senomyx, Inc. His research has focused on the mechanisms of taste perception and the development of cell lines that can be used in high-throughput screening assays to identify taste modulatory compounds. His innovative approach has contributed to advancements in the field of taste receptor biology.
Collaborations
Mark T. Zoller has collaborated with notable colleagues, including Xiaodong Li and Lena Staszewski. These collaborations have furthered research in taste receptor functionality and the identification of taste compounds.
Conclusion
Mark T. Zoller is a pioneering inventor whose work on taste receptors has opened new avenues for research and product development in the food industry. His contributions continue to influence the understanding of taste perception and its applications.