TAAR6 belongs to the trace amine-associated receptor family. Trace amines are endogenous amine compounds that are chemically similar to classic biogenic amines like dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and histamine. Trace amines were thought to be 'false transmitters' that displace classic biogenic amines from their storage and act on transporters in a fashion similar to the amphetamines, but the identification of brain receptors specific to trace amines indicates that they also have effects of their own.[7][8] RNA expression analysis shows hTAAR6 is expressed in the hippocampus, where murine TAAR receptors have been shown to be involved with neurogenesis.[9]
Computational modeling suggests TAAR6 can bind to the foul smelling compounds produced by rotting flesh, putrescine and cadaverine.[10]
TAAR6 mutant mice have differences in behavior compared with wild-type mice.[11] Also, they have elevated brain serotonin levels in several brain regions and enhanced hypothermic response to 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT.[12]
Cao Q, Martinez M, Zhang J, Sanders AR, Badner JA, Cravchik A, et al. (July 1997). "Suggestive evidence for a schizophrenia susceptibility locus on chromosome 6q and a confirmation in an independent series of pedigrees". Genomics. 43 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1006/geno.1997.4815. PMID9226366.
Kaufmann CA, Suarez B, Malaspina D, Pepple J, Svrakic D, Markel PD, et al. (July 1998). "NIMH Genetics Initiative Millennium Schizophrenia Consortium: linkage analysis of African-American pedigrees". American Journal of Medical Genetics. 81 (4): 282–9. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1096-8628(19980710)81:4<282::AID-AJMG2>3.0.CO;2-W. PMID9674972.
† References for all endogenous human TAAR1 ligands are provided at List of trace amines
‡ References for synthetic TAAR1 agonists can be found at TAAR1 or in the associated compound articles. For TAAR2 and TAAR5 agonists and inverse agonists, see TAAR for references.