Patent ID: 7638289
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: A01K,A61K,C07H,C07K,G01N

Abstract:
1. An in vitro assay for identifying a compound which modulates a human T2R55 (hT2R55) bitter taste receptor that specifically responds to bitter ligand which comprises: I screening a compound for its effect on the activation of said hT2R55 polypeptide and ii determining whether said compound modulates hT2R55 associated bitter taste based on its effect on the activation of said receptor, wherein the hT2R55 is selected from the group consisting of (i) a bitter taste receptor hT2R55 encoded by a nucleic acid comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:5; (ii) a bitter taste receptor hT2R55 comprising the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6; (iii) a bitter taste receptor hT2R55 which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to the complement of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, wherein stringent hybridization conditions are hybridization in 5×SSC, 1% SDS, incubation at 65 degrees C. and wash in 2×SSC and 0.1% SDS at 65 degrees C., wherein the bitter taste receptor hT2R55 specifically responds to at least one bitter ligand that modulates the activity of the bitter taste receptor polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6; and (iv) a bitter taste receptor hT2R55 having at least 95% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6 or a polypeptide having a sequence which possesses at least 95 % sequence identity to the entire extracellular or transmembrane domains of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6 wherein said bitter taste receptor specifically responds to at least one bitter ligand that modulates the activity of the bitter taste receptor polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6.