TAS1R2 (Taste 1 Receptor Member 2) Gene
Key sweet taste receptor subunit, implicated in metabolic and sensory disorders
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | TAS1R2 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | taste 1 receptor member 2 |
| Gene Type | protein coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 1p36.23 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 80834 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/80834 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000179041 |
| UniProt ID | Q8TE23 |
| OMIM ID | 606226 |
| HGNC ID | 11755 |
| Aliases | T1R2, TR2, GPR71 |
Description
The TAS1R2 gene encodes the type 1 taste receptor 2 (T1R2) protein, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that forms a heterodimer with TAS1R3 to function as the primary sweet taste receptor in mammals. This receptor is activated by natural sugars, artificial sweeteners, and sweet proteins, initiating signal transduction that leads to the perception of sweet taste. Beyond taste buds, TAS1R2 is expressed in various tissues including the gut, pancreas, and brain, where it may play roles in glucose sensing, hormone secretion, and metabolic regulation. Genetic variations in TAS1R2 have been associated with differences in sweet taste perception, dietary preferences, and susceptibility to metabolic conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Obesity | TAS1R2 polymorphisms (e.g., rs35874116) may alter sweet taste sensitivity, influencing sugar intake and body weight. | ClinVar, PMID: 23251651 |
| Type 2 Diabetes | Variants in TAS1R2 affect glucose metabolism and insulin secretion via sweet taste receptor signaling in pancreatic beta cells. | ClinVar, PMID: 23251651 |
| Dysgeusia (taste disorder) | Altered TAS1R2 expression or function can impair sweet taste perception, contributing to taste abnormalities. | OMIM, PMID: 20660055 |
| Metabolic Syndrome | TAS1R2-mediated sweet taste signaling in the gut influences incretin release and glucose homeostasis, impacting metabolic health. | ClinVar, PMID: 23251651 |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Tongue (taste buds) | Not available | High (specific to taste receptor cells) |
| Small intestine | Not available | Moderate (enteroendocrine cells) |
| Pancreas | Not available | Low to moderate (beta cells) |
| Brain (hypothalamus) | Not available | Low (neuronal subsets) |
| Adipose tissue | Not available | Low (adipocytes) |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HEK293 (transfected) | Not available | Used for functional studies of TAS1R2/TAS1R3 receptor |
| Caco-2 (intestinal) | Not available | Endogenous expression; involved in sweet sensing |
| NCI-H716 (enteroendocrine) | Not available | Endogenous expression; mediates incretin release |
| MIN6 (pancreatic beta) | Not available | Endogenous expression; regulates insulin secretion |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| rs35874116 (Ile191Val) | SNP | Minor allele frequency ~0.3 (global) | Associated with reduced sweet taste sensitivity and increased sugar intake in some populations |
| rs9701796 (Ser789Ala) | SNP | Minor allele frequency ~0.2 (global) | Linked to altered glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes risk |
| rs4920566 (intronic) | SNP | Minor allele frequency ~0.4 (global) | Associated with obesity risk in certain ethnic groups |
| rs121379001 (frameshift) | Indel | Rare (pathogenic) | Loss-of-function; may cause isolated sweet taste deficiency (not clinically significant) |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
Loss-of-function mutations in TAS1R2 (e.g., frameshift or nonsense variants) impair sweet taste receptor formation, leading to reduced or absent sweet taste perception. Such variants are rare and may be associated with taste disorders.
Gain of Function (GOF)
Gain-of-function mutations are not well-documented for TAS1R2. However, certain SNPs may increase receptor sensitivity to sweet compounds, potentially enhancing sweet taste perception and influencing dietary behavior.
Dominant Negative (DN)
Dominant-negative effects have not been reported for TAS1R2. Since TAS1R2 functions as a heterodimer with TAS1R3, a mutant TAS1R2 could theoretically interfere with dimerization, but no clinical evidence supports this.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • G protein-coupled receptor activity | • sweet taste receptor activity |
| • signal transduction | • detection of chemical stimulus involved in sensory perception of sweet taste |
| • plasma membrane | • integral component of membrane |
Pathways
• Sweet taste signaling pathway (KEGG: hsa04742)
• GPCR downstream signaling (cAMP and IP3 pathway)
• Glucose sensing and incretin secretion (gut)
Protein Summary
TAS1R2 (T1R2) is a 839-amino acid seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor. It forms a heterodimer with TAS1R3 via extracellular Venus flytrap domains to create the functional sweet taste receptor. Upon ligand binding (sugars, sweeteners, sweet proteins), the receptor activates G protein gustducin, leading to downstream signaling that depolarizes taste cells. TAS1R2 is also expressed in non-gustatory tissues where it participates in glucose sensing and metabolic regulation. The protein has a large extracellular domain, a seven-transmembrane domain, and a short intracellular C-terminus. Post-translational modifications include N-glycosylation, which is essential for cell surface expression and ligand binding.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAS1R2 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ9584 | Human | 80834 | Details Get a Quote |
| TAS1R2 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ57354 | Human | 80834 | Details Get a Quote |
| TAS1R2 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ65859 | Human | 80834 | Details Get a Quote |
| TAS1R2 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ74285 | Human | 80834 | Details Get a Quote |
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