Patent ID: 7816093
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: A01K,A61K,C07H,C07K,G01N

Abstract:
1. An in vitro assay for identifying a compound which specifically binds and/or modulates a bitter taste receptor polypeptide that specifically responds to bitter ligands wherein said polypeptide is encoded by an isolated nucleic acid sequence select from the group consisting of (i) an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a human T2R54 (hT2R54) taste receptor having the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or a fragment encoding the entire transmembrane or the extracellular region thereof; (ii) a nucleic acid sequence that encodes the hT2R54 bitter taste receptor polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4; (iii) an isolated nucleic acid sequence that encodes a human T2R54 bitter taste receptor that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to the complement of the nucleic acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:3 wherein stringent hybridization conditions are hybridization in 5XSSC, 1% SDS, incubation at 65 degrees C. and wash in 2XSSC and 0.1% SDS at 65 degrees C., and (iii) a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a bitter taste receptor polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4 or a fragment thereof possessing at least 95% sequence identity to the entire transmembrane or the extracellular region of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4; wherein said isolated nucleic acid sequence encodes a bitter taste receptor that specifically binds and/or responds to at least one bitter ligand that specifically binds or modulates the activity of the bitter taste receptor polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4 and wherein the assay comprises at least the following steps: i screening a compound for its specific binding to and/or its effect on the activity of said receptor encoded by said isolated nucleic acid sequence and ii determining whether said compound modulates bitter taste based on its specific binding to or its effect on the activity of said receptor.