Divergence of T2R chemosensory receptor families in humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees.

ABSTRACT: T2R (Tas2R) genes encode a family of G protein-coupled gustatory receptors, several involved in bitter taste perception. So far, few ligands for these receptors have been identified, and the specificity of most T2Rs is unclear. Differences between individual T2Rs result in altered taste perception in either specificity or sensitivity. All 33 human T2Rs are characterized by significant sequence homology. However, with a total of eight pseudogenes and >83 coding region single-nucleotide polymorphisms, the family displays broad diversity. The underlying variability of individual T2Rs might be the source for personalized taste perception. To test this hypothesis and also to identify T2Rs that possibly function beyond bitter taste, we compared all human T2R genes with those of the closely relat

SUBMITTER: Parry CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC522029 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature