Taste Receptor Type 2 Member 43 (TAS2R43)

TAS2R43 belongs to the large TAS2R receptor family. TAS2Rs are expressed on the surface of taste receptor cells and mediate the perception of bitterness through a G protein-coupled second messenger pathway.The deduced 309-amino acid protein contains the 7-transmembrane structure and short N- and C-terminal domains conserved in TAS2Rs. The intracellular domains share significant conservation with other TAS2R family members. TAS2R43 shares highest sequence similarity with TAS2R44.T2R4 seemed to sit near the tips of cilia, whereas T2R43 appeared to reside more proximally. Bitter compounds increased the intracellular calcium ion concentration and stimulated ciliary beat frequency. TAS2R43 and TAS2R44 could contribute to the bitter aftertaste of saccharine and acesulfame K.