Identification of a novel member of the T1R family of putative taste receptors

In the gustatory system, the recognition of sugars, amino acids and bitter‐tasting compounds is the function of specialized G protein‐coupled receptors. Recently, two members of novel subfamily of G protein‐coupled receptors were proposed to function as taste receptors based on their specific expression in taste receptor cells. Here, we report the identification of a third member, T1R3, of this family of receptors. T1R3 maps near the telomere of mouse chromosome 4 rendering it a candidate for the Sac locus, a primary determinant of sweet preference in mice. Consistent with its candidacy for the Sac locus, T1R3 displays taste receptor cell‐specific expression. In addition, taster and non‐taster strains of mouse harbor different alleles of T1R3.