News Archives
AMBRYX INC. ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA FOR TASTE RECEPTORS
SAN DIEGO (April 15, 1999) – Ambryx Inc., a newly formed company focusing on the discovery of products that enhance the human sensory experience, announces today the signing of an exclusive agreement with the University of California regarding a set of novel molecules involved in the biology of taste, including two candidate taste receptors.
These receptors, TR1 and TR2, the subject of the cover article in the February 19 issue of the journal Cell, have unique expression patterns in taste buds of the tongue and palate epithelium that indicate a key role in the reception of taste. These proteins are members of a new group of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), a class of receptors well know as mediators of cellular function throughout the body. GPCRs are targets for many of the drugs sold by the pharmaceutical industry. The TR1 receptor is found in taste buds that preferentially respond to sweet stimuli and TR2 receptor in taste buds which are mostly sensitive to bitter substitutes.
"The isolation of the candidate taste receptor genes provides the groundwork necessary for affecting the perception of taste and devising methods to stimulate or block taste cell function," said Dr. Lubert Stryer, a founder of the company and Chairman of its board of directors. "Receptor molecules provide the unique specificity and selectivity of each sensory system. These candidate receptors provide a promising new way of approaching the taste experience."
During the last decade, tremendous technological advances have been achieved in the areas of cellular and molecular biology, genomics, combinatorial chemistry, biomolecular screening, and informatics. Together with additional proprietary technology related to chemoreception, Ambryx was founded to utilize these technologies to modulate and enhance human sensory experience including taste and olfaction. Ambryx represents the founding of a new industry beyond healthcare and agriculture that is focused on the application of discovery technologies in food, fragrance and other broad consumer markets.
back to News Archives