Patent ID: 7883856
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An assay for identifying a compound which modulates the specific binding and/or activation of a bitter taste receptor polypeptide by a bitter ligand compound selected from clarithromycin, ethylpyrazine, goitrin, oxybutynin chloride, picoline, picric acid, phenylthiocarbamide, and, thioacetanilide, trimethoprim which specifically bind and/or activate said T2R bitter taste receptor polypeptide said wherein the bitter taste receptor polypeptide is a polypeptide as set forth below wherein the method comprises: i. screening a compound for its effect on at least one of said bitter ligand compounds to specifically bind and/or to induce the activation of a bitter taste receptor polypeptide as defined below, wherein said bitter taste receptor polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of (1) the polypeptide in SEQ ID NO: 30, and (2)) A bitter taste receptor polypeptide which t possesses at least 95% sequence identity to a bitter taste receptor polypeptide or to the entire extracellular or transmembrane region of the T2R polypeptide sequence in SEQ ID NO:30 and further containing the corresponding extracellular or transmembrane region of another GPCR wherein said bitter taste receptor polypeptide specifically binds and/or is activated by at least one of said bitter ligands, and ii. determining whether said compound modulates bitter taste based on its effect on the specific binding and/or activation of said receptor polypeptide in (i) by at least one bitter ligand compound selected from clarithromycin, ethylpyrazine, goitrin, oxybutynin chloride, picoline, picric acid, phenylthiocarbamide, thioacetanilide, trimethoprim which specifically bind and/or activate said receptor polypeptide; and iii. identifying said compound as a potential bitter taste modulator if it modulates the specific binding and/or activation of said human bitter taste receptor polypeptide by at least one of said bitter ligand compounds.