This gene encodes a member of a family of candidate tastereceptors that are members of the G protein-coupled receptorsuperfamily. These family members are specifically expressed bytaste receptor cells of the tongue and palate epithelia. Each ofthese apparently intronless genes encodes a 7-transmembranereceptor protein, functioning as a bitter taste receptor. This geneis clustered with another 3 candidate taste receptor genes inchromosome 7 and is genetically linked to loci that influencebitter perception. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].