Taste receptor (TAS1R and TAS2R families) (TR)

Taste receptors are specialized chemosensory proteins primarily located within the taste buds of the tongue, though they are extensively expressed in extra-oral tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, and brain (8, 12, 17). The system is categorized into two main families of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): Taste Receptor Type 1 (TAS1Rs), which form heterodimers to detect sweet and umami stimuli, and Taste Receptor Type 2 (TAS2Rs), comprising approximately 25 subtypes in humans that detect a wide variety of bitter compounds (8, 10). In the oral cavity, these receptors facilitate flavor perception to guide nutrient intake and avoid toxins; however, in extra-oral sites, they regulate critical physiological processes including incretin hormone secretion (e.g., GLP-1), airway smooth muscle tone, and innate immune responses (5, 7, 18). Genetic polymorphisms in these receptors, particularly TAS2R38, are linked to individual differences in taste sensitivity and susceptibility to metabolic and respiratory diseases (2, 6). They are emerging therapeutic targets for the treatment of metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as inflammatory conditions such as asthma (5, 15, 21).

Other names

Gustatory receptorChemosensory receptorTAS1RsTAS2RsT1RsT2RsBitter taste receptorsSweet taste receptorsUmami taste receptors

Agonism, Antagonism, Allosteric modulation