Taste Receptor Type 2 Member 31 (TAS2R31)

TAS2R44 belongs to the large TAS2R receptor family. TAS2Rs are expressed on the surface of taste receptor cells and mediate the perception of bitterness through a G protein-coupled second messenger pathway .

The deduced 309-amino acid protein contains the 7-transmembrane structure and short N- and C-terminal domains conserved in TAS2Rs. The intracellular domains share significant conservation with other TAS2R family members. TAS2R44 shares highest sequence similarity with TAS2R43.Both receptors were highly sensitive to aristolochic acid, a purely bitter-tasting compound, and neither was activated by compounds eliciting sweet or umami taste. Consistent with the in vitro data, cross-adaptation studies in human subjects supported the existence of common receptors for both sulfonyl amide sweeteners.