Patent ID: 7402400
Filing Date: 2008-07-22
Classification: C07K

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying a compound that activates or inhibits sweet taste signal transduction in taste cells, the method comprising the steps of: (i) contacting the compound with a cell expressing a sweet taste receptor comprising a T1R3 polypeptide and a T1R2 polypeptide, wherein the T1R3 polypeptide has a greater than 93% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 20 or greater than 93% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 23; and wherein the T1R2 polypeptide has a greater than 92% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:8; and (ii) determining the functional effect of the compound upon the receptor, wherein said functional effect is binding to the receptor or having an effect on the activity of the receptor, thereby identifying a compound that activates or inhibits sweet signal transduction, wherein the sweet taste receptor specifically binds a sweet compound, and at least one of the T1R3 and T1R2 polypeptides is recombinant.