TAS1R2
Description
The TAS1R2 (taste 1 receptor member 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 1.
TAS1R2, the gene encoding T1R2 protein, is responsible for the sweet taste perception in humans. T1R2 forms a dimer with T1R3 to create the sweet taste receptor, which binds to various sweet compounds. While the main binding site for sweeteners resides in the VFT domain of T1R2, the protein itself is not functional without forming the dimer. This dimerization involves the rotation of both T1R2 and T1R3 VFDs, leading to signal transmission to the TMDs through the CRDs. Interestingly, some artificial sweeteners and lactisole, an inhibitor of the sweet taste receptor, interact with allosteric binding sites on the TMD of the dimer. Notably, even without extracellular domains and binding ligands, these receptors exhibit spontaneous activity.
TAS1R2 is also known as GPR71, T1R2, TR2.
