Patent ID: 7794959

Claim:
An assay for identifying a compound which blocks or inhibits bitter taste elicited by one or more bitter compounds present in hydrolyzed soy protein by the activation of a human T2R bitter taste receptor comprising: i. screening a compound for its effect on the activation of at least one bitter taste receptor polypeptide by hydrolyzed soy protein containing composition wherein said bitter taste receptor polypeptide comprises a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:6 or to the extracellular or transmembrane region thereof, and ii. determining whether said compound modulates bitter taste elicited by said bitter hydrolyzed soy protein containing composition based on whether it has an inhibitory effect on the activation of said receptor by said bitter hydrolyzed soy protein fraction; and iii. identifying said compound as a potential bitter taste modulator which potentially may be used as a flavor additive in soy protein containing ingestibles if it inhibits the activation of said human bitter taste receptor by said hydrolyzed soy protein containing composition.