The detection of sweet-tasting compounds is mediated in large part by a heterodimeric
receptor comprised of T1R2+ T1R3. Lactisole, a broad-acting sweet antagonist, suppresses
the sweet taste of sugars, protein sweeteners, and artificial sweeteners. Lactisole's inhibitory
effect is specific to humans and other primates; lactisole does not affect responses to sweet
compounds in rodents. By heterologously expressing interspecies combinations of T1R2+
T1R3, we have determined that the target for lactisole's action is human T1R3. From studies …