Taste receptor type 2 member 1 (TAS2R1/T2R1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TAS2R1 gene. It belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family and is related to class A-like GPCRs, they contain 7 transmembrane helix bundles and short N-terminus loop. Furthermore, TAS2R1 is member of the 25 known human bitter taste receptors, which enable the perception of bitter taste in the mouth cavity. Increasing evidence indicates a functional role of TAS2Rs in extra-oral tissues.

Bitter taste receptors are expressed in taste receptor cells, which organized into taste buds on the papillae of the tongue and palate epithelium.

In addition, TAS2Rs were found to be expressed in extra-oral tissues, e.g. brain, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, etc. So far, less is known about their function however, for example it was shown that:

Based on a recent homology model from BitterDB several conserved motifs, which are counterparts to Class A GPCRs were found:

Numbering is according to the Balleros-Weinstein system

Unlike in Class A GPCRs, in transmembrane helix 4 no DRY motif was found as well as position 6.50 is not conserved.

This gene encodes a member of a family of candidate taste receptors that are members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily and that are specifically expressed by taste receptor cells of the tongue and palate epithelia. This intronless taste receptor gene encodes a 7-transmembrane receptor protein, functioning as a bitter taste receptor.

In T2R1 two SNPs are known in R111H and R206W (dbSNP).