Activation of the HTAS2R14 human bitter-taste receptor by (-)-epigallocatechin gallate and (-)-epicatechin gallate

Abstract

Tea catechins have strong bitterness and influence the taste of tea. Among the 25 human bitter-taste receptors (TAS2Rs), we found that hTAS2R14 responded to catechins, in addition to hTAS2R39, a known catechin receptor. Although hTAS2R14 responded to (-)-epicatechin gallate and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, it did not respond to (-)-epicatechin and (-)-epigallocatechin.