Patent ID: 9476869
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: C07K,G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method of screening for a compound that blocks or activates sweet taste signaling, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting cells comprising isolated mammalian cells or cultured mammalian cells with one or more compounds, wherein said cells express a receptor that binds to sweet taste compounds; (b) detecting whether said one or more compounds specifically bind to said receptor and/or specifically activate said receptor and, based thereon, identifying said one or more compounds as compounds that putatively block or activate sweet taste signaling; and (c) conducting a taste test to determine the effect of at least one compound identified in step (b) as a compound that putatively blocks or activates sweet taste signaling, and, based on the result of the taste test, identifying the compound as a compound that blocks or activates sweet taste signaling, wherein (1) said receptor that binds to sweet compounds comprises a first polypeptide and a second polypeptide; (2) said first polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: (3) said second polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: wherein said stringent hybridization conditions comprise conducting the hybridization reaction at 42° C. in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 5×SSC, and 1% SDS and washing at 65° C. in a solution comprising 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS, wherein at least one of steps (a) and (b) are automated.