Sk. Welch et al., SEQUENCE AND TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF A CANDIDATE G-COUPLED RECEPTOR CLONED FROM RAT HYPOTHALAMUS, Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 209(2), 1995, pp. 606-613
We have used RT-PCR with degenerate transmembrane primers to clone mem
bers of the G-coupled protein receptor family from rat hypothalamic su
prachiasmatic nuclei. We report here a novel clone, UHR-1, which encod
es a candidate receptor that is most similar to the neuropeptide recep
tor family, including the tachykinins, somatostatins, and opioids. Mes
sage for this putative receptor is expressed in several brain regions,
with the highest levels in pituitary, cerebellum, and hypothalamus. N
o message was detected in peripheral tissues. Southern blot analysis s
uggests that UHR-1 is likely a member of a multigene family. The natur
al ligand for this novel receptor is unknown, but based on sequence ho
mology and structural features is likely to be a peptide. (C) 1995 Aca
demic Press, Inc.