Patent ID: 7939279

Claim:
A method of identifying a compound that modulates taste signal transduction in taste cells, the method comprising the steps of: (i) contacting a test compound with an isolated taste receptor comprising at least one T1R3 polypeptide and not comprising T1R1 or T1R2, and wherein the T1R3 polypeptide is at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15, 20, 23, 25, or 31; (ii) determining a functional effect of the test compound on the receptor, wherein said functional effect comprises binding to the receptor or having an effect on the activity of the receptor; and (iii) comparing the functional effect of the test compound to a functional effect of >300 mM natural sugar on said receptor, and identifying the test compound as a compound that modulates taste signal transduction if the effect of the test compound is equal to or greater than the effect of >300 mM natural sugar on said receptor.