CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HUMAN 5-HT5A SEROTONIN RECEPTOR

The human 5-HT5A serotonin receptor has been cloned. As with the mouse and rat 5-HT5A receptors, the gene consists of two coding exons separ ated by a large intron. The deduced amino acid sequence of the gene re veals a protein of 357 residues which shares 93% (nucleotide) and 84% (amino acid) identity to the cloned mouse 5-HT5A receptor. We have det ermined the tissue distribution of the receptor by reverse transcripta se-PCR and found expression in all regions of the brain examined with little or no expression in peripheral tissues. The receptor has been t ransiently expressed in Cos M6 cells and exhibits a pharmacological pr ofile closely resembling the mouse and rat 5-HT5A receptors with high, specific binding for ergotamine and methiothepin.