Identification of bitter ligands that specifically activate human T2R receptors and related assays for identifying human bitter taste modulators

摘要

The present invention relates to the discovery that specific human taste receptors in the T2R taste receptor family respond to particular bitter compounds. The invention further relates to the use of these receptors in assays for identifying ligands that modulate the activation of these taste receptors by these bitter ligands and related compounds and which may be used as additives and/or removed from foods, beverages, cosmetics and medicinals in order to modify (block) T2R-associated bitter taste.