Taste receptor type 2 member 3 (TAS2R3)

Taste receptor type 2 member 3 (TAS2R3) is a bitter taste receptor belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, encoded by an intronless gene that is primarily expressed in taste receptor cells of the tongue and palate[1][2]. It detects bitter compounds in food and is involved in the transduction of taste signals via gustducin-mediated pathways, using downstream effectors such as PLCβ2 and TRPM5[1][4]. TAS2R3, like other TAS2Rs, is also found in various extraoral tissues, where it may modulate physiological processes including immunity, metabolism, and possibly the risk of certain diseases (e.g. thyroid cancer)[2][5]. The receptor responds to a variety of bitter substances, and genetic variations in TAS2R3 are linked to individual differences in bitter taste perception and disease susceptibility[2][4]. As a member of a large family of bitter taste receptors, TAS2R3 plays a role in chemosensory detection of noxious environmental compounds, as well as in extraoral defense and regulation mechanisms[2][4][5].

Other names

TAS2R3T2R3Taste 2 receptor member 3Candidate taste receptor T2R3Taste receptor, type 2, member 3

Agonists: Activate GPCR pathway, leading to PLCβ2 and TRPM5 signaling, resulting in cell depolarization and taste/chemosensory perception - In extraoral tissues: Same pathway may activate local hormonal, metabolic, or immune responses