Taste receptor type 2 member 108 (TAS2R108)

Taste receptor type 2 member 108 (TAS2R108) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that belongs to the TAS2R family, which is primarily responsible for the perception of bitter taste. Although originally characterized in the taste buds of the tongue, TAS2R108 is also expressed in various extra-oral tissues, including the airway smooth muscle and the gastrointestinal tract (UniProt Q7TQA6) [1]. In the respiratory system, activation of TAS2R108 by bitter substances such as denatonium or quinine triggers a signaling pathway that results in significant bronchodilation, making it a promising target for treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Deshpande et al., 2010) [2]. In the gut, TAS2R108 may play a role in the release of metabolic hormones and the regulation of appetite, suggesting potential applications in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes (Lu et al., 2017) [3]. As a research target, TAS2R108 provides insights into the physiological roles of bitter taste receptors beyond gustation and serves as a model for developing novel non-steroidal bronchodilators (Chandrashekar et al., 2006) [4]. Its activation typically involves the G-protein gustducin and the PLCβ2/IP3 pathway, leading to intracellular calcium release.

Other names

T2R108mt2r53Tas2r8mTas2r108Taste receptor type 2 member 108

Agonist binding activates the G-protein gustducin and phospholipase C beta-2 (PLCβ2), leading to the generation of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and the release of calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum, which mediates downstream physiological effects like smooth muscle relaxation or bitter taste signal transmission.