Personal profile
Research interests
Chemoreceptors play a key role in taste and odor perception, such as evaluating the quality of food, but are also expressed in various tissues and organs beyond the oral and nasal cavities. However, their physiological function beyond classical sensory perception remains largely unexplored. During digestion and metabolization, chemosensory active compounds may undergo enzymatic modifications, altering their chemical properties and bioactive potential. For instance, a sweet-tasting protein can be enzymatically cleaved into bitter peptides during gastric digestion, which may interact with gastric bitter receptors and thereby activate anti-inflammatory signaling pathways. The aim of the research is to investigate how exogenous compounds are modified during digestion and metabolization and to elucidate which physiological functions their metabolites can exert through interaction with extra-oral and extra-nasal chemoreceptors and associated signaling pathways.
Education/Academic qualification
Biochemistry, PhD, TUM School of Life Sciences
Award Date: 5 Feb 2025
Chemistry, Master, Elite Graduate Program of the Elite Network of Bavaria, University of Bayreuth
Award Date: 24 Aug 2020
others, Master, University of Bayreuth
Award Date: 31 Jul 2020
others, 1. State Exam, University of Bayreuth
Award Date: 31 Dec 2019
Biology, Bachelor, University of Bayreuth
Award Date: 16 Oct 2017
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Research output
- 7 Article
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Biomolecular and biophysical AFM probing reveals distinct binding of bitter peptide VAPFPEVF to TAS2R16 without inducing an intracellular calcium response
Richter, P. (Shared First Author), Karanth, S. (Shared First Author), dos Santos Natividade, R. (Co-Author), Nicoli, A. (Co-Author), Kogut-Guenthel, M. M. (Co-Author), Benthin, J. (Co-Author), Di Pizio, A. (Co-Author), Koehler, M. (Co-Author) & Somoza, V. (Last Author), 30 Aug 2025, In: Food Chemistry. 484, 144448.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Bitter peptides formed during in-vitro gastric digestion induce mechanisms of gastric acid secretion and release satiating serotonin via bitter taste receptors TAS2R4 and TAS2R43 in human parietal cells in culture
Gradl, K. (First Author), Richter, P. (Co-Author) & Somoza, V. (Last Author), 1 Aug 2025, In: Food Chemistry. 482, 144174.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access6 Scopus citations -
Activation of the TRPML1 Ion Channel Induces Proton Secretion in the Human Gastric Parietal Cell Line HGT-1
Mueller, A. U. (First Author), Andersen, G. (Co-Author), Richter, P. (Co-Author) & Somoza, V. (Last Author), Aug 2024, In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 25, 16, 8829.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Scopus citations -
Gastric digestion of the sweet-tasting plant protein thaumatin releases bitter peptides that reduce H. pylori induced pro-inflammatory IL-17A release via the TAS2R16 bitter taste receptor
Richter, P. (First Author), Sebald, K. (Co-Author), Fischer, K. (Co-Author), Schnieke, A. (Co-Author), Jlilati, M. (Co-Author), Mittermeier-Klessinger, V. (Co-Author) & Somoza, V. (Last Author), 1 Aug 2024, In: Food Chemistry. 448, 139157.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access16 Scopus citations -
Sodium-Permeable Ion Channels TRPM4 and TRPM5 are Functional in Human Gastric Parietal Cells in Culture and Modulate the Cellular Response to Bitter-Tasting Food Constituents
Richter, P. (First Author), Andersen, G. (Co-Author), Kahlenberg, K. (Co-Author), Müller, A. U. (Co-Author), Pirkwieser, P. (Co-Author), Boger, V. (Co-Author) & Somoza, V. (Co-Author), 6 Mar 2024, In: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 72, 9, p. 4906-4917 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access13 Scopus citations
Activities
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Joint Retreat: Food quality & (non-)Flavor activity
Somoza, V. (Organizer), Andersen, G. (Participant), Richter, P. (Participant), Kahlenberg, K. (Participant), Müller, A. U. (Participant), Danzer, B. (Participant) & Palacino Chacon, V. (Participant)
9 Oct 2025 → 10 Oct 2025Activity: Participating in or organizing an event › Participating in an event
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Environmental pollution as a modulator of taste perception and digestive processes
Richter, P. (Speaker)
9 Oct 2025 → 10 Oct 2025Activity: Talk or event contribution › Oral presentation
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Biomolecular and biophysical AFM probing reveals distinct binding of bitter peptide VAPFPEVF to TAS2R16 without inducing an intracellular calcium response
Richter, P. (Speaker)
15 Sep 2025 → 18 Sep 2025Activity: Talk or event contribution › Oral presentation
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A salix-fern-based plant extract reduces the TNF-α-induced release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8, MIP-3α, and IP-10 in immortalized human gastric MKN-45 cells
Richter, P. (Speaker)
31 Aug 2025 → 3 Sep 2025Activity: Talk or event contribution › Poster presentation
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74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting: Chemistry
Richter, P. (Participant) & Nicoli, A. (Participant)
29 Jun 2025 → 4 Jul 2025Activity: Participating in or organizing an event › Participating in an event
Prizes
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Partial scholarship for participation in a scientific conference of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker e. V.
Richter, P. (Recipient), 21 Feb 2024
Prize
Press/Media
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Bitter macht den Magen sauer, aber wie? / Wie bittere Nahrungsbestandteile die Magensäureproduktion beeinflussen
Richter, P., Andersen, G. & Somoza, V.
14/05/24 → 26/02/25
21 Media contributions
Press/Media
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Thaumatin: Natürlicher Süßstoff mit entzündungshemmendem Potenzial
30/09/24 → 28/12/24
55 Media contributions
Press/Media
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Courses
Thesis
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Impact of gastrically-released dietary bitter peptides on proton secretion and anti-inflammatory processes in immortalized human parietal cells
Richter, P. (Author), Somoza, V. (Supervisor), Schwab, W. (Supervisor), Dawid, C. (Supervisor) & Lieder, B. (Supervisor), 5 Feb 2025Student thesis: Doctoral thesis