Monellin
Monellin is a type of protein that is really sweet and tastes like sugar. Imagine having a candy that is really sweet, but instead of sugar, it's made of a special type of protein called monellin. This protein is found in a fruit called the serendipity berry that grows in West Africa.
Scientists have studied monellin because it is so sweet, and they wanted to know how it works. They found out that the protein has a special shape that fits into the taste receptors on our tongues, which are like little locks. When the protein fits into these locks, it sends a message to our brains that says "This tastes sweet!"
Scientists are still figuring out how to use monellin in foods and drinks. Because it is so sweet, only a tiny bit is needed to sweeten things up. This could be really helpful for people who need to watch their sugar intake. But, right now, monellin is really expensive to make, so it's not found in very many foods or drinks yet.
Scientists have studied monellin because it is so sweet, and they wanted to know how it works. They found out that the protein has a special shape that fits into the taste receptors on our tongues, which are like little locks. When the protein fits into these locks, it sends a message to our brains that says "This tastes sweet!"
Scientists are still figuring out how to use monellin in foods and drinks. Because it is so sweet, only a tiny bit is needed to sweeten things up. This could be really helpful for people who need to watch their sugar intake. But, right now, monellin is really expensive to make, so it's not found in very many foods or drinks yet.