Elucidating Odorant Masking Effects in Food Matrices through Olfactory Receptor-Based Profiling

Dynamic interactions among aroma compounds, especially odorant masking, constitute key determinants of the intricate flavor profiles of thermally processed foods. However, the molecular- and receptor-level mechanisms governing mutual odor suppression remain largely unclear. This study investigated the reciprocal sensory masking between 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine and l-menthol via a systematic sensory evaluation. Olfactory receptor screening identified OR5K1 as the responsive receptor for 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine (EC50 = 27.67 ± 2.02 μmol/L) and OR2W1 as the functional receptor for l-menthol (EC50 = 22.69 ± 3.85 μmol/L). Consistently, quantitative cellular response assays further validated that 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine and l-menthol exert mutual inhibitory effects on their respective receptors, as evidenced by the significant inhibition of receptor signaling. Moreover, molecular modeling predicted that 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine and l-menthol competitively occupy the same orthosteric pocket via analogous binding conformations. These results provide novel receptor-level insights into odorant inhibitory effects, connecting sensory perception to molecular recognition, and deepen the mechanistic understanding of flavor perception.