Gustducin-coupled receptor implicated in the perception of bitter compounds in the oral cavity and the gastrointestinal tract. Signals through PLCB2 and the calcium-regulated cation channel TRPM5. Interacts with RTP3 and RTP4. Expressed in a subset of gustducin-positive taste receptor cells of the tongue. Expressed in circumvallate papillae and testis (PubMed:16720576). Genetic variation in TAS2R16 influences sensitivity to beta-glucopyranoside tasting (BGLPT) [MIM:617956]. Variant Asn-172 results in greater receptor activation in response to bitter beta-glucopyranoside compounds including salicin, arbutin and amygdalin compared to Lys-172 (PubMed:16051168). Variant Lys-172 may influence risk of alcohol dependence (PubMed:16385453). Several bitter taste receptors are expressed in a single taste receptor cell. Confers bitter perception of salicin to non-taster mice. Belongs to the G-protein coupled receptor T2R family.