Taste receptor type 2 members 4, 8, 10, 13 (TAS2R4, TAS2R8, TAS2R10, TAS2R13)

The human bitter taste receptor type 2 family comprises over 25 GPCRs (including TAS2R4, TAS2R8, TAS2R10, and TAS2R13) responsible for detecting bitter compounds both in the oral cavity (where they mediate taste) and in extraoral tissues. These receptors have broad and selective ligand profiles, enabling detection of structurally diverse toxins, nutrients, and xenobiotics. Beyond taste, TAS2Rs regulate processes in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, immune, reproductive, and even cancer tissues—affecting ciliary activity, hormone secretion, type 2 immune responses, and cellular differentiation or apoptosis. Evidence strongly supports their roles in host defense, metabolic regulation, and potentially as novel targets for drug discovery in cancer, metabolic disease, and immune-related disorders

Other names

T2R4Bitter taste receptor 4T2R8Bitter taste receptor 8T2R10Bitter taste receptor 10T2R13Bitter taste receptor 13

Ligand binding induces a GPCR-mediated intracellular signaling cascade, typically resulting in increased intracellular calcium and downstream cellular responses such as taste perception, hormone release, immune activation, or modulation of differentiation/apoptosis