Functional assays for identifying compounds that modulate T1R2/T1R3 (sweet) taste

A method for identifying a compound that potentially modulates a T1R2/T1R3 receptor comprising:

• (i) screening one or more compounds in a functional assay that detects compounds which modulate (enhance or inhibit) the activity of the T1R2/T1R3 receptor by another compound;
• and
• (ii) identifying compounds that potentially modulate the T1R2/T1R3 receptor-based on their modulation (enhancement or inhibition) of the activity of the T1R2/T1R3 receptor by another compound, wherein said T1R2 is a T1R2 polypeptide and is (i) encoded by a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ. ID. NO:
• 10, (ii) encoded by a nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid that hybridizes to SEQ. ID. NO:
• 10 under stringent hybridization conditions which are conducting the hybridization reaction at 42° C. in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 5×SSC, and 1% SDS and washing at 65° C. in a solution comprising 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS, or (iii) a T1R2 polypeptide possessing at least 90% sequence identity to the T1R2 polypeptide of SEQ. ID. NO:
• 6;
• wherein said T1R3 is a T1R3 polypeptide and is (i) encoded by a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ. ID. NO:
• 9;
• (ii) encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes to SEQ. ID. NO:
• 9 under stringent hybridization conditions which are conducting the hybridization reaction at 42° C. in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 5×SSC, 10% SDS;
• and washing at 65° C. in a solution comprising 0.2×SCC and 0.1% SDS, or (iii) a T1R3 polypeptide possessing at least 90% sequence identity to the T1R3 polypeptide of SEQ. ID. NO:
• 7;
• and wherein said T1R2/T1R3 receptor specifically binds to a ligand that specifically binds to an endogenous (wild-type) human T1R2/T1R3 receptor comprised of at least one endogenous T1R2 polypeptide and at least one endogenous T1R3 polypeptide.