TAS2R31 explained

Taste receptor, type 2, member 31, also known as TAS2R31, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the TAS2R31 gene.^[1] This bitter taste receptor has been shown to respond to saccharin in vitro.^[2]

TAS2R31 is also expressed in the smooth muscle of human airways, along with several other bitter taste receptors. Their activation in these cells causes an increase in intracellular calcium ion, which in turn triggers the opening of potassium channels which hyperpolarize the membrane and cause the smooth muscle to relax. Hence, activation of these receptors leads to bronchodilation.^[3]

Polymorphisms in this gene have been associated with the perceived bitterness of sweetener acesulfame potassium.^[4]

See also

• Taste receptor

Further reading

• Margolskee RF . Molecular mechanisms of bitter and sweet taste transduction. . J. Biol. Chem. . 277 . 1 . 1–4 . 2002 . 11696554 . 10.1074/jbc.R100054200 . free .
• Montmayeur JP, Matsunami H . Receptors for bitter and sweet taste. . Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. . 12 . 4 . 366–71 . 2002 . 12139982 . 10.1016/S0959-4388(02)00345-8 . 37807140 .
• Bufe B, Hofmann T, Krautwurst D, Raguse JD, Meyerhof W . The human TAS2R16 receptor mediates bitter taste in response to beta-glucopyranosides. . Nat. Genet. . 32 . 3 . 397–401 . 2002 . 12379855 . 10.1038/ng1014 . 20426192 .
• Zhang Y, Hoon MA, Chandrashekar J, Mueller KL, Cook B, Wu D, Zuker CS, Ryba NJ . Coding of sweet, bitter, and umami tastes: different receptor cells sharing similar signaling pathways. . Cell . 112 . 3 . 293–301 . 2003 . 12581520 . 10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00071-0 . 718601 . free .
• Conte C, Ebeling M, Marcuz A, Nef P, Andres-Barquin PJ . Identification and characterization of human taste receptor genes belonging to the TAS2R family. . Cytogenet. Genome Res. . 98 . 1 . 45–53 . 2003 . 12584440 . 10.1159/000068546 . 1542970 .
• Pronin AN, Tang H, Connor J, Keung W . Identification of ligands for two human bitter T2R receptors. . Chem. Senses . 29 . 7 . 583–93 . 2005 . 15337684 . 10.1093/chemse/bjh064 . free .
• Fischer A, Gilad Y, Man O, Pääbo S . Evolution of bitter taste receptors in humans and apes. . Mol. Biol. Evol. . 22 . 3 . 432–6 . 2005 . 15496549 . 10.1093/molbev/msi027 . free .
• Kuhn C, Bufe B, Winnig M, Hofmann T, Frank O, Behrens M, Lewtschenko T, Slack JP, Ward CD, Meyerhof W . Bitter taste receptors for saccharin and acesulfame K. . J. Neurosci. . 24 . 45 . 10260–5 . 2005 . 15537898 . 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1225-04.2004 . free . 6730199 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Entrez Gene: TAS2R31 taste receptor, type 2, member 31.
2. Kuhn C, Bufe B, Winnig M, Hofmann T, Frank O, Behrens M, Lewtschenko T, Slack JP, Ward CD, Meyerhof W . Bitter taste receptors for saccharin and acesulfame K . J. Neurosci. . 24 . 45 . 10260–5 . November 2004 . 15537898 . 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1225-04.2004 . 6730199 .
3. Deshpande DA, Wang WC, McIlmoyle EL, Robinett KS, Schillinger RM, An SS, Sham JS, Liggett SB . Bitter taste receptors on airway smooth muscle bronchodilate by localized calcium signaling and reverse obstruction . Nat. Med. . 16 . 11 . 1299–304 . November 2010 . 20972434 . 3066567 . 10.1038/nm.2237 .
4. Allen AL, McGeary JE, Knopik VS, Hayes JE . Bitterness of the non-nutritive sweetener acesulfame potassium varies with polymorphisms in TAS2R9 and TAS2R31 . Chem. Senses . 38 . 5 . 379–89 . 2013 . 23599216 . 3657735 . 10.1093/chemse/bjt017 .