Alternative titles; symbols
HGNC Approved Gene Symbol: TAS2R8
Cytogenetic location: 12p13.2 Genomic coordinates (GRCh38): 12:10,806,051-10,807,286 (from NCBI)
TAS2R8 belongs to the TAS2R family of taste receptors, which are expressed in subsets of taste receptor cells of the tongue and palate epithelia (Adler et al., 2000; Matsunami et al., 2000).
For additional information on the TAS2R gene family, see TRB2 (TAS2R10; 604791).
Matsunami et al. (2000) used in silico methods to identify a family of candidate taste receptors that are members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily and that are specifically expressed in taste receptor cells. Using the TRB2 sequence to search the human chromosome 12 database, Matsunami et al. (2000) identified 8 related genes, all in the same contig. Six encode receptors related to TRB2, and 2 are pseudogenes. All TRB genes have the 7 transmembrane domain structure characteristic of GPCRs, but lack a long extracellular N-terminal domain proposed to bind ligand, suggesting that they use a different mode of ligand binding. Matsunami et al. (2000) concluded that the TRBs are diverse in protein sequence, which is consistent with an ability to detect a variety of tastants with very different chemical structures.
Adler et al. (2000) identified members of a family of 40 to 80 human and rodent GPCRs expressed in subsets of taste receptor cells of the tongue and palate epithelia. These candidate taste receptors, which the authors called T2Rs, are organized in the genome in clusters and are genetically linked to loci that influence bitter perception in mice and humans. One of the genes, T2R8, is identical to the TRB5 gene reported by Matsunami et al. (2000). Each T2R gene encodes a 7-transmembrane receptor protein. The amino acid sequence identities between human and mouse T2Rs range from 46 to 67%. The authors determined that a single taste receptor cell expresses a large repertoire of T2Rs, suggesting that each cell may be capable of recognizing multiple tastants. In situ hybridization demonstrated that T2Rs are exclusively expressed in taste receptor cells that contain the G protein subunit gustducin, implying that they function as gustducin-linked receptors.
Adler et al. (2000) identified the T2R8 gene in a BAC clone from chromosome 12p13.
Kinnamon (2000) reviewed the role of taste receptors in taste transduction.
Adler, E., Hoon, M. A., Mueller, K. L., Chandrashekar, J., Ryba, N. J. P., Zuker, C. S. A novel family of mammalian taste receptors. Cell 100: 693-702, 2000. [PubMed: 10761934] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80705-9]
Kinnamon, S. C. A plethora of taste receptors. Neuron 25: 507-510, 2000. [PubMed: 10774719] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0896-6273(00)81054-5]
Matsunami, H., Montmayeur, J.-P., Buck, L. B. A family of candidate taste receptors in human and mouse. Nature 404: 601-604, 2000. [PubMed: 10766242] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1038/35007072]