CLONING AND FUNCTIONAL EXPRESSION OF A BRAIN G-PROTEIN-COUPLED ATP RECEPTOR

A cDNA encoding a novel member of the G-protein-coupled receptor (GCR) superfamily, an ATP receptor, has been isolated from an embryonic chi ck whole brain cDNA library by hybridization screening. The encoded pr otein has a sequence of 362 amino acids (41 kDa) and shares no more th an 27% amino acid identity with any known GCR. When expressed as a com plementary RNA (cRNA) in Xenopus oocytes a slowly-developing inward cu rrent was observed in response to application of ATP. The pharmacology of this expressed protein defines it as a P2Y purinoceptor.