Human bitter taste receptor (hBTR)

The human bitter taste receptor (hBTR) refers to a family of approximately 25 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) known as the TAS2R family. Primarily located on the tongue's taste buds, these receptors detect a wide variety of bitter-tasting compounds, serving as a biological warning system against the ingestion of potentially toxic substances. Beyond the oral cavity, hBTRs are expressed in diverse tissues including the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal system, and immune cells, where they play roles in bronchodilation, gut hormone release, and pathogen sensing. In the context of drug development, hBTRs are significant both as targets for treating respiratory diseases like asthma and as factors influencing drug compliance due to the bitter taste of many pharmaceutical agents. Research into hBTRs involves identifying specific agonists and antagonists to modulate taste perception or therapeutic pathways in extra-oral tissues.

Other names

T2RTAS2RTaste receptor type 2Bitter taste receptor familyhTAS2R