Patent ID: 8524464

Claim:
An assay method for identifying a compound which affects bitter taste by modulating the activity of a human T2R bitter taste receptor comprising a polypeptide having a sequence at least 90% identical to the polypeptide in SEQ ID NO:12, wherein said bitter taste receptor specifically responds to at least one bitter ligand selected from nitrosaccharin, and saccharin which comprises: i. screening a compound for its effect if any on the activation of said human T2R bitter taste receptor comprising a polypeptide at least 90% identical to the polypeptide in SEQ ID NO:12 by at least one bitter ligand selected from nitrosaccharin, and saccharin, and ii. determining whether said compound modulates bitter taste based on its effect on the activation of said human T2R bitter taste receptor by at least one of said bitter compounds; and iii. identifying said compound as a potential bitter taste modulator if it modulates the activation of said human T2R bitter taste receptor by at least one of said bitter compounds.