MOLECULAR-CLONING OF A NOVEL RECEPTOR (CMKLR1) WITH HOMOLOGY TO THE CHEMOTACTIC FACTOR RECEPTORS

We report the cloning of a novel human gene, CMKLR1, which encodes a p rotein that has notable sequence and structural homology to the seven transmembrane G-protein linked chemokine receptors. This gene has 55% nucleotide sequence homology to the IL-8 type I receptor and 53% to th e N-formyl peptide related receptor 1 genes. The mRNA of this receptor is expressed in a broad array of tissues associated with hematopoieti c and immune function including, spleen, thymus, appendix, lymph node, bone marrow, and fetal liver. Using fluorescence in situ hybridizatio n the gene encoding CMLKR1 (chemokine-like receptor 1) was localized t o human chromosome 12q24.1.