Patent ID: 7629134

Claim:
A method for identifying a compound that modulates the activity of a sour taste receptor, comprising: a) providing i) a first sample comprising recombinant cells which have been genetically engineered to express a functional sour taste receptor comprised of PKD1L3 protein and PKD2L1 protein, and ii) a second sample comprising cells which do not express said functional sour taste receptor comprised of PKD1L3 protein and PKD2L1 protein; b) contacting said first sample with at least one compound; c) contacting said second sample with said at least one compound; d) measuring calcium levels in said first sample and said second sample in the presence and absence of said at least one compound; and e) identifying said compound as a sour taste receptor modulator if it elicits a detectable change in calcium levels in said first sample in comparison to said second sample.