TAS1 receptors: An overview of their functions, expression and genetic variations

Heteromeric G protein-coupled receptors are essential in taste transduction, a characteristic important for vertebrates. Type 1 taste receptors mediate sweet and umami sensing via two heterodimers: TAS1R2/TAS1R2 and TAS1R1/TAS1R3. Evidently, these heterodimers are expressed in taste buds, but also in several other tissues like the gastrointestinal tract, bone, pancreas and bladder. Because of its role in transducing the sweet taste, there have been plenty of investigations regarding genetic variations associated with obesity or dental caries.