SuperSweet - a resource on natural and artificial sweetening agents

A vast number of sweet tasting molecules are known, encompassing small compounds, carbohydrates, D-amino acids and large proteins. Carbohydrates play a particularly big role in human diet. The replacement of sugars in food with artificial sweeteners is common and is a general approach to prevent cavities, obesity and associated diseases such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Knowledge about the molecular basis of taste may reveal new strategies to overcome diet-induced diseases. In this context, the design of safe, low-calorie sweeteners is particularly important. Here, we provide a comprehensive collection of carbohydrates, artificial sweeteners and other sweet tasting agents like proteins and peptides. Additionally, structural information and properties such as number of calories, therapeutic annotations and a sweetness-index are stored in SuperSweet. Currently, the database consists of more than 8000 sweet molecules. Moreover, the database provides a modeled 3D structure of the sweet...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: NAR
• Authors: Jessica Ahmed, Saskia Preissner, Mathias Dunkel, Catherine L. Worth, Andreas Eckert, Robert Preissner
• Keywords: Artificial Sweeteners, Human Diet, Low Calorie Sweeteners, NAR 2011