Patent ID: 7517972

Claim:
An isolated nucleic acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and which specifically binds to a bitter ligand that specifically binds the T2R76 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2; (ii) a nucleic acid sequence that has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1; and (iii) a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes under high stringency conditions to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 wherein high stringency conditions are incubating for 15 minutes in 0.1×SSC at 65 degrees C. and which isolated nucleic acid sequence encodes a taste receptor polypeptide that specifically binds to a bitter ligand that specifically binds to the T2R76 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, and further wherein said isolated nucleic acid sequence of part (i), (ii) or (iii) is operatively linked to a heterologous promoter that provides for the expression thereof in a recombinant host cell containing said isolated nucleic acid sequence.