IDENTIFICATION OF NOVEL GUANYLYL, CYCLASES FROM CHEMOSENSORY TISSUES OF RAT AND CATTLE

A number of studies have shown that cGMP may play some roles in chemos ensory transduction. To identify the structure of guanylyl cyclase in chemosensory tissues, cDNA fragments encoding guanylyl cyclase catalyt ic domain were amplified from rat and bovine olfactory and tongue epit helium using degenerate oligonucleotide primers and reverse transcript ion-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Three novel clones, two membra ne type guanylyl cyclases (RAT GC-1, BOV GC-3) and one soluble type gu anylyl cyclase (RAT GC-2) were identified. RAT GC-1 was distributed ov er various rat tissues in addition to these chemosensory organs. BOV G C-3 was similar to but distinct from recent cloned olfactory-specific guanylyl cyclase. RAT GC-2 was identified as rat homologue of alpha 2 subunit of the soluble guanylyl cyclase. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.