Senomyx, Inc.

Firmenich Incorporated

Lena Luukkonen

Xiaodong Li

Jon Elliot Adler

Sergey Zozulya

Shawn O'Connell

Hong Xu

Fernando Echeverri

Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G protein-coupled receptors, and the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T1R G protein-coupled receptors active in taste signaling, and the genes and cDNA encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors. Methods for representing taste perception of a particular taste stimulus in a mammal are also described, as are methods for generating novel molecules or combinations of molecules that elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal, and methods for simulating one or more tastes. Further, methods for stimulating or blocking taste perception in a mammal are also disclosed.

T1R taste receptors and genes encoding same

Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G protein-coupled receptors which function as hetero-oligomeric complexes in the sweet taste transduction pathway, and the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T1R G protein-coupled receptors active in sweet taste signaling as hetero-oligomeric complexes, and the genes and cDNA encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors. Methods for identifying putative taste modulating compounds using such hetero-oligomeric complexes also described, as is a novel surface expression facilitating peptide useful for targeting integral plasma membrane proteins to the surface of a cell.

Methods of using T1R hetero-oligomeric taste receptors to screen for compounds which modulate sweet or umami taste signaling

The invention relates to the identification of taste receptors and cells which express these taste receptors which are involved in sweet and umami taste transduction. Also, the invention relates to the use of these taste receptors and cells which express these taste receptors in assays for the identification of taste modulatory compounds.

TIR taste receptors and genes encoding same

The invention relates to compounds that specifically bind a T1R1/T1R3 or T1R2/T1R3 receptor or fragments or sub-units thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric and chimeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli. Further, the invention relates to the constitutive of cell lines that stably or transiently co-express a combination of T1R1 and T1R3; or T1R2 and T1R3; under constitutive or inducible conditions. The use of these cells lines in cell-based assays to identify umami and sweet taste modulatory compounds is also provided, particularly high throughput screening assays that detect receptor activity by use of fluorometric imaging.

T1R hetero-oligomeric taste receptors, cell lines that express said receptors, and taste compounds

Methods are provided for identifying human and non-human primate cells which respond to sweet tastants. These methods screen for human or non-human primate cells which express a polypeptide which binds to or responds to sweet tastants. These cells may be used in binding and functional assays to screen for compounds which modulate sweet taste.

Methods of using TIR hetero-oligomeric receptors for screening compounds that modulate sweet or umami taste

Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G protein-coupled receptors, and the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors are provided. Specifically, T1R G protein-coupled receptors active in taste signaling, and the genes and cDNA encoding the same, are provided, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Lena Luukkonen