The duration and intensity of taste modification caused by this substance are related to many factors, including the concentration of mysterious fruit protein, the time of tongue contact with mysterious fruit protein and the concentration of acid. The maximum sweetness caused by this substance is about equal to the sucrose solution with the concentration of 17%.
At present, people don't know the specific mechanism of protein's taste improvement.
It is speculated that the mysterious fruit protein can change the structure of taste cells on the tongue, so that the sweet receptor is activated by acid, thus sweetening what is usually acid. This effect will last until the taste buds return to normal.
Histidine residues in protein (His29 and His59) seem to play a major role in changing taste behavior. One site is used to attach protein to the cell membrane, while the other site (linked to xylose or arabinose) activates the sweet receptor on the cell membrane in an acidic environment.
In the presence of cations (i.e., alkaline environment, such as the presence of calcium ion Ca2+ and/or magnesium ion Mg2+), it will interfere with the combination between the active sugar and the sweet receptor of the mysterious fruit protein, so the taste modification ability of the mysterious fruit protein will fail.
It has also been compared that after eating mysterious fruit and citric acid, the taste signal transmission caused by acidic substances in the central nervous system is processed, and only the sweet signal reaches the central nervous system.
Another study pointed out that the mysterious fruit protein changes shape when it meets acid. After closely combining with the receptor in human tongue, it changes the reaction mode of the receptor. The higher the acidity, the greater the shape change and the sweeter the taste.
Expand the edible value of mysterious fruit
The pulp contains rich and peculiar glycoproteins, vitamin C, KI, citric acid, succinic acid, oxalic acid and so on. Seeds contain natural sterols and leaves contain trace mineral elements such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
The mature fruit of the mysterious fruit can be eaten raw, made into juice, and made into concentrated buccal tablets. The seeds of sugar-free lemon popsicles (mysterious fruit popsicles) combined with juice can be eaten raw and made into concentrated buccal tablets. Leaves are a pure natural plant monosodium glutamate.
Mysterious fruit can be used in any stew, hot pot and pasta soup base, making the soup delicious and sweet and nutritious; Can be used to make pot-stewed tastes of various flavors; It can also be used to make tea, or mixed with other teas, so that your mouth can enjoy the ultimate tea culture.
In the food industry, people often use mysterious fruit as seasoning.
If consumers want to eat lemon rich in vitamin C, but the taste of citric acid is very strong, they need to add a lot of sugar water to dilute and dilute citric acid, so as not to consume too much sugar and make them flinch from eating.
If you eat a mysterious fruit, you can turn sour lemon into sweet lemon, and it is especially fragrant. After eating, the sweetness can stay in your mouth for up to 30 minutes. People who are afraid of bitter medicine can taste the mysterious fruit first, and then take medicine, so that there will be no unpleasant smell.
References:
Baidu Encyclopedia: Mysterious Fruit Protein
References:
African exotic fruit