Taste substances are recognized by gustatory sensory neurons that express putative seven transmembrane proteins in the gustatory receptor (Gr) family. However, the gustatory tuning of the molecular receptors encoded by these gustatory receptor genes remains unknown in honey bees. Here we first functionally characterize a gustatory receptor responding to umami taste L-amino acids in the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. Using Ca2+ imaging assay and two-voltage clamp recording, we first report that one of the gustatory receptors of honeybee, AmGr10, functions as a selectively tuned amino acid receptor in taste neurons. In addition, we report a floating electrode-based bioelectronic tongue mimicking honeybee taste systems for the detection and discrimination of umami substances. This floating electrode-based bioelectronic tongue mimicking insect taste systems can be a powerful platform for various applications such as food screening, and it also can provide valuable insights on insect taste systems.

• Je Won Jung(Biomodulation Major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University)
• Hyung Wook Kwon(College of Life Sciences, Incheon National University)