Taste receptor type 2 member 8 (TAS2R8)

TAS2R8 functions as a bitter taste receptor, detecting bitter compounds in food to help avoid ingestion of potentially toxic substances. It is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) expressed in subsets of taste receptor cells in the tongue and palate, and its activation leads to a signal transduction cascade involving α-gustducin, PLCβ2, IP3, calcium release, and ultimately, neurotransmitter release for the perception of bitterness.

Other names

T2R8TRB5Taste receptor family B member 5

Activation of G-proteins (α-gustducin), stimulation of phospholipase C beta 2 (PLCβ2), IP3 production and intracellular calcium release, activation of TRPM5 channels, cell depolarization, and neurotransmitter ATP release via CALHM channels.