Patent ID: 7727729

Claim:
A method for identifying a compound that modulates signal transduction in a cell that expresses a taste cell specific G protein coupled receptor (GPCR), the method comprising the steps of: (i) contacting the compound with a cell which expresses: (a) a taste cell specific G-protein alpha subunit polypeptide, wherein the G-protein alpha subunit polypeptide comprises a sequence with greater than 95% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, and the G-protein alpha subunit polypeptide is a subunit of a heterotrimeric G-protein which binds a guanine nucleotide; and (b) a taste cell specific GPCR comprising a GPCR-B4 polypeptide with greater than 90% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, 13, or 14, wherein said GPCR binds said heterotrimeric G-protein; and (ii) determining a functional effect of the compound upon the cell expressing the G-protein alpha subunit polypeptide and the taste cell specific GPCR, thereby identifying a compound that modulates signal transduction in a cell.