IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL MEMBER OF THE NUCLEAR RECEPTOR SUPERFAMILY WHICH IS CLOSELY-RELATED TO REV-ERBA

Degenerate PCR primers were designed based upon conserved regions with in the DNA and ligand binding domains of several nuclear receptors. PC R was performed using these primers starting with total brain cDNA. Se veral members of the nuclear receptor superfamily were identified, one of which was novel, but showing a high degree of homology to the prev iously known orphan receptor Rev-ErbA. This new orphan receptor, Rev-E rbA beta, was further characterised, and a cDNA with an intact open re ading frame was isolated from a rat brain cDNA library. Northern blot analysis shows two different sizes of mRNA, 4 and 5.5 kb, respectively , in all tissues analysed. A more detailed study of this orphan was th en performed using in situ hybridisation, showing a high expression of the new orphan receptor in particular in the cerebellum, the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and pituitary gland of adult rats. (C) 1994 A cademic Press, Inc.