CLONING OF HUMAN GENES ENCODING NOVEL G-PROTEIN-COUPLED RECEPTORS

We report the isolation and characterization of several novel human ge nes encoding G protein-coupled receptors. Each of the receptors contai ned the familiar seven transmembrane topography and most closely resem bled peptide binding receptors. Gene GPR1 encoded a receptor protein t hat is intronless in the coding region and that shared identity (43% i n the transmembrane regions) with the opioid receptors. Northern blot analysis revealed that GPR1 transcripts were expressed in the human hi ppocampus, and the gene was localized to chromosome 15q21.6. Gene GPR2 encoded a protein that most closely resembled an interleukin-8 recept or (51% in the transmembrane regions), and this gene, not expressed in the six brain regions examined, was localized to chromosome 17q21.1-q 21.3. A third gene, GPR3, showed identity (56% in the transmembrane re gions) with a previously characterized cDNA clone from rat and was loc alized to chromosome 1p35-p36.1. (C) 1994 Academic Press,Inc.