By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Did you ever wonder why certain things taste different?

According to a new report in the journal Nature, a key component in the sweet, bitter and umami taste perception is a protein essential for the release of a signaling molecule in response to taste bud activation that transmits information about the taste to the brain.

It is called calhm h1. Researchers believe it is a key part in the signaling pathway that connects taste bud activation and transmission of sweet, bitter and umami taste information to the brain.