Taste receptor type 2 member 14 (TAS2R14)

Taste receptor type 2 member 14 (TAS2R14) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that primarily functions as a broadly tuned bitter taste receptor, activated by an exceptionally wide range of structurally diverse bitter compounds (over 150 known agonists). While its primary role is in the detection of bitter substances on the tongue, TAS2R14 is widely expressed in extra-oral tissues including the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal system, immune cells, heart, thyroid, brain, and others. In the airway smooth muscle, activation of TAS2R14 leads to bronchodilation, positioning it as a candidate therapeutic target for diseases like asthma. Mechanistically, TAS2R14 uniquely accommodates diverse agonists via a flexible binding pocket and activates signaling by coupling to the gustducin G protein, triggering downstream calcium signaling. Recent structural studies reveal a novel activation mechanism, where cholesterol binds to an orthosteric pocket to "prime" the receptor, while bitter tastants bind to an adjacent allosteric site, conferring unique allosteric modulation properties. TAS2R14 has implications not only in taste but also as a chemoreceptor involved in innate immunity, metabolism, and possibly other physiological functions, making it a prospective but as yet underexploited therapeutic target [1][2][3][4].

Other names

TAS2R14T2R14TRB1Taste receptor family B member 1taste receptor, family B, member 1PRH1-TAS2R14uncharacterized protein LOC106707243taste receptor type 2 member 14

Agonists bind primarily to a unique allosteric site, leading to conformational change and G-protein activation [1][2][3] Activation results in increased intracellular calcium, hyperpolarization, and smooth muscle relaxation (bronchodilation) [4]