T1R1 receptor binding assays for identification of taste modulators

A method for identifying a compound that putatively modulates or elicits taste in a human subject comprising:

• (1) screening one or more compounds in a binding assay which identifies compounds that specifically bind to a human T1R1 polypeptide or which modulate (inhibit or enhance) the specific binding of another compound that specifically binds to said human T1R1 polypeptide, wherein said T1R1 polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) a human T1R1 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence [encoded by] in SEQ. ID. NO:
• 17;
• (b) a human T1R1 polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that specifically hybridizes to the hT1R1 nucleic acid sequence contained in SEQ. ID. NO's:
• 15 or 16 under stringent hybridization conditions which are 50% formamide, 5×SSC and 1% SDS, incubating at 65 degrees C.;
• with wash in 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS at 65 degrees C. and which human T1R1 polypeptide is specifically bound by at least one taste modulatory compound that specifically binds to the human T1R1 polypeptide in SEQ. ID NO:17;
• and
• (c) a human T1R1 polypeptide which has possesses at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence in SEQ. ID. NO:17 and which specifically binds to at least one taste modulatory compound which specifically binds to the native T1R1 polypeptide in SEQ ID NO:17;
• (2) identifying compounds that putatively modulate taste based on its specific binding to a human T1R1 polypeptide according to (a), (b), or (c), or its modulation (inhibition or enhancement) of the specific binding of another compound to a T1R1 polypeptide according to (a), (b), or (c).